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HANIT 

THE  ENCHANTRESS 


HANIT 

THE  ENCHANTRESS 


BY 

GARRETT  CHATFIELD  JIER 

AUTHOB  OP  "INSCEIPTIONS  OF  THE  NlLB  MONUMENTS,"  BTC. 


"Provided  thou  art  an  equipped  soul,  knowing 
the  Secret  Name  of  Thoth,  thou  shall  pass  unharmed 
through  that  abyss  which  hath  no  air,  whose  depths 
are  illimitable." 


NEW  YORK 
E.  P.  DUTTON  &  COMPANY 

681  FIFTH  AVENUE 


Copyright  1921 
By  E.  P.  DUTTON  &  COMPANY 

All  Rights  Reserved 


Printed  in  the  United  State»  o)  America 


FOREWORD 

MY  READER.  Perhaps  you  have  had  the 
good  fortune  to  visit  Egypt!  If  such 
be  the  ease,  you  have  undoubtedly  stood 
among  the  giant  columns  of  the  Temple  to  the 
Sun-god  Amen  in  the  Northern  Apt  (Karnak). 
You  have  marveled  at  the  ever  changing  colors 
which  light  up  the  walls  and  columns  of  the 
Temple  of  the  Southern  Apt  (Luxor),  so  that 
at  one  moment  they  seem  to  have  been  carved 
from  blocks  of  amber,  at  another  from  coral, 
jasper,  amethyst  or,  as  the  last  bright  rays  of 
the  sinking  sun  fall  full  upon  them,  from  colos 
sal  bars  of  red  Nubian  gold. 

You  have  gazed  in  awe  and  reverence  at  the 
mummy  of  King  Amenhotep,  lying  in  his  granite 
sarcophagus,  peacefully  asleep  he  seemed,  deep 
down  in  the  very  heart  of  the  Theban  Hills. 

In  an  alcove  nearby  you  may  recall  the  three 
bodies  lying,  uncoffined,  upon  the  bare  rock  of 
the  tomb  chamber.  You  were  informed  that  the 


yi  Foreword 

bodies  had  been  removed  from  their  own  tombs 
to  this  secret  chamber  of  a  dead  Pharaoh,  that 
they  might  be  saved  from  the  hands  of  tomb- 
robbers. 

"The  mummies  of  unknown  royal  person 
ages/'  your  Arab  guide  informed  you. 

Perhaps  the  guide  permitted  you  to  touch  the 
long  black  tresses  of  one  of  the  three.  He 
pointed  out  what  he  called  the  mark  of  an  arrow, 
which  caused  the  death  of  another.  He  told  you 
that  the  boy  had  undoubtedly  met  his  death  at 
the  hands  of  a  strangler.  He  hinted  at  foul 
murder ! 

If  what  he  said  of  the  three  was  true,  ne 
might  well  have  attempted  to  identify  the 
bodies.  They  are,  perhaps,  those  of  Wazmes, 
Queen  Hanit's  murdered  son,  the  beautiful 
slave  girl  Bhanar,  and  her  one-time  mistress, 
the  Princess  Sesen,  whose  wavy  black  hair  ap 
pears  as  soft  to-day  as  when  Ramses  and  Menna 
wooed  her,  as  when  Renny  the  Syrian  died  for 
her. 

All  this,  and  more,  you  have  doubtless  seen. 


Foreword  vii 

Yet,  it  is  safe  to  say,  you  have  never  so  much 
as  heard  of  the  mystery  surrounding  the  tomb 
of  Menna,  son  of  Menna,  that  most  baffling 
among  the  many  mysterious  tombs  in  and  about 
the  great  Theban  cemeteries. 

Undoubtedly,  Menna,  son  of  Menna,  had  in 
life  an  enemy,  a  most  vindictive  enemy;  one 
whose  malignant  hatred  followed  Menna  into 
his  very  tomb. 

Enter  that  tomb  to-day,  and  you  see  at  a 
glance  that  this  enemy  sought  to  nullify  and 
make  ineffectual  the  entire  series  of  engraved 
prayers  and  magic  formulas  which  witness  to 
Menna 's  hopes  for  an  eternity  of  bliss  upon  the 
banks  of  the  Celestial  Nile.  Yes,  Menna 's  im 
placable  foe  sought  to  destroy  him,  both  body 
and  soul ! 

Menna 's  body  was  not  found  when,  recently, 
his  tomb  was  discovered  and  opened.  We  may 
thus  infer  that  Menna 's  arch-enemy  accom 
plished  the  destruction  of  Menna 's  body  as  suc 
cessfully,  as  fiendishly  we  may  suppose,  as  he 
did  that  of  Menna 's  soul. 


viii  Foreword 

Examine  the  sculptures  upon  the  walls  of  his 
tomb.  You  will  find  that  Henna's  eyes  have 
been  cut  out;  that  the  lips  of  his  servants  and 
field  hancls  are  missing;  that  the  tips  of  his 
hunting  arrows  have  been  blunted;  that  the 
knots  in  his  " measuring-rope"  have  been  de 
stroyed.  Yet,  worse  than  all,  the  plumb  of  the 
scales,  upon  which  Menna's  heart  will  be 
weighed  at  the  Judgment,  has  vanished. 

Let  us  suppose  that  Menna's  mummy  had 
been  found,  found  intact,  at  the  opening  of 
his  tomb.  That  empty  shell  would  have 
been  of  little  use  to  Menna.  Since,  follow 
ing  his  enemy's  work  of  desecration  upon  the 
ordered  prayers,  incantations  and  scenes 
painted  or  engraved  upon  the  walls  of  his  tomb, 
Menna's  body  was  doomed  to  inevitable  de 
struction,  and  with  it,  that  of  his  Jca  or 
"double,"  that  other  self  which,  from  the  day 
of  his  birth,  awaited  him  in  the  heavens. 

Without  eyes  Menna  could  not  find  his  way 
among  the  flint-strewn  valleys  and  precipitous 
heights  of  the  Underworld.  "Without  arrows 


Foreword  ix 

Menna  would  be  unable  to  obtain  food.  Menna's 
servants  had  all  perished,  as  without  mouths 
they  could  neither  eat  nor  drink.  And  Menna 
might  never  measure  off  an  allotted  acreage 
among  the  ever  fertile  fields  of  Heaven  if,  in 
spite  of  all,  he  somehow  managed  to  win 
through  to  the  Celestial  Nile. 

Alas !  this  success  Menna  could  never  hope  to 
achieve.  The  breaking  of  the  plumb  of  the 
scales  rendered  it  impossible  that  Menna's 
trembling  soul  could  pass  Osiris,  Judge  of  the 
Dead,  or  the  fierce  hound  Amemet,  which,  with 
open  mouth,  awaited  his  victims  beside  that 
great  god's  throne. 

No !  Menna  could  never  hope  to  feast  at  the 
Table  of  the  Gods.  Menna  could  never  enjoy 
that  eternity  of  bliss  among  the  Blessed  Fields 
of  Aaru  which  a  beneficent  Sun-god  had  prom 
ised  to  the  faithful. 

But,  Menna's  body  was  not  found  at  the  time 
of  the  discovery  of  his  tomb,  though  his  body 
had  evidently  been  placed  in  the  white  sarcoph 
agus  prepared  for  it  by  royal  command. 


x  Foreword 

Who  so  bitterly  hated  Menna,  the  King's 
Overseer?  Who  so  relentlessly  sought  not  alone 
the  destruction  of  his  mortal  body  but  the  very; 
annihilation  of  his  soul? 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTEB  PAGE 

FOREWORD v 

I.  TELLS  OF  HOW  PROFESSOR  RANNEY 
PURCHASED  AN  ANCIENT  MANUSCRIPT 
AND  OF  WHAT  HE  FOUND  THEREIN  .  1 

II.     A  FALL  DOWN  THIRTY  CENTURIES  .     .     16 

III.  ENANA  THE  MAGICIAN,  WOULD  PROVE 

THAT  A  RESEMBLANCE  BETWEEN  A 
QUEEN  AND  A  PRIESTESS  MAY  BE 
TURNED  TO  His  ADVANTAGE  .  .  33 

IV.  How  BHANAR  CAME  TO  THEBES       .     .    45 
V.     THE    PLEASURE   BARGE   OP   THI,   THE 

QUEEN-MOTHER 53 

VI.     How  BHANAR  FOUND  A  HOME  IN  EGYPT.    66 

VII.     How  RENNY  THE  SYRIAN  ESCAPED  THE 

CROCODILES 83 

VIII.     NOFERT-ARI  DANCES  BEFORE  PHARAOH.    91 
IX.     THE  LUMINOUS  BOOK 119 

X.     PHARAOH  SEEKS  TO  EXALT  A  FOREIGN 

GOD 138 

XI.     THE  STATUE  OF  AMEN  DISAPPEARS     .  152 
xi 


Xll 


Contents 


CHAPTER  PAQE 

XII.     ENANA  CALLS  TO  HIS  Am  THE  GODS 

JUSTICE  AND  VENGEANCE    ....  165 

XIII.  RAMSES  AND  SESEN 172 

XIV.  A  RASH  PROMISE 187 

XV.     A   STATUE   OF   HATHOR,   GODDESS   OP 

LOVE 200 

XVI.     THE    CURSE    OF   HUY,    GREAT    HIGH 

PRIEST  OF  AMEN      .         ....  208 

XVII.     WHY   MENNA'S  CHAIRBEARER  STAKED 

HIS  ALL 218 

XVIII.     WHAT  HAPPENED  WHEN  MENNA,  SON 

OF  MENNA,  WENT  A-WOOING  .     .     .  228 

XIX.     THE  HITTITES  ADVANCE 239 

XX.     How  BAR  AND  RENNY  MEET  FOR  THE 

LAST  TIME 247 

XXI.     OF  THE  CAPTURE  OF  BELUR,  THE  HIT- 

TITE 256 

XXII.     THE  "DOUBLE"  OF  HANIT  .  266 


HANIT 

THE  ENCHANTRESS 


HANIT:  THE  ENCHANTRESS 


CHAPTER  I 

TELLS  OF  How  PROFESSOR  RANNEY  PURCHASED 
AN  ANCIENT  MANUSCRIPT  AND  OF  WHAT  HE 
FOUND  THEREIN. 

THE  shop  of  Tanos  the  Greek,  "Dealer  in 
Genuine  Antiques,"  as  the  sign  above  the 
door  advised,  might  well  have  been 
named  a  museum  of  ancient  art  and  curiosities. 
Entered  from  the  front  of  the  Sharia  Kamel, 
one  of  the  main  thoroughfares  of  Cairo,  the  shop 
appeared  at  first  glance  to  consist  of  but  two 
long  narrow  rooms,  the  one  immediately  behind 
the  other.  Both  rooms  were  filled  to  the  very 
ceiling  with  curios  of  all  sorts,  from  little  agate 
beads  to  vast  and  shapeless  mummies  of  Sacred 


Hanit:  the  Enchantress 


Bulls.  A  half  dozen  bodies  of  Egyptian  priests, 
unwrapped  and  black  with  natron,  stood 
propped  against  the  walls  of  the  upper  room. 
The  odor  of  cinnamon,  myrrh  and  other  em 
balming  essences  filled  the  rooms  and  drifted 
out  through  the  open  door  to  blend  with  the 
indefinable,  but  never  forgettable,  odor  of  the 
Cairene  streets. 

A  nearer  view  of  the  upper  room  disclosed 
the  approach  to  what  Tanos  called  the  "holy  of 
holies."  This  third,  or  innermost  chamber,  was 
screened  from  the  eyes  of  the  ordinary  souvenir 
hunter  by  an  ivory-inlaid  door  of  ancient  Coptic 
woodwork. 

Connoisseurs  generally  knew  that  here  were 
kept  the  treasures  par  excellence.  Here  Tanos 
would  display  rare  statuettes,  bronzes,  ivories 
and  richly  glazed  potteries  for  the  archaeol 
ogist;  inscriptions  on  stone  or  papyrus  for  the 
philologist;  diadems  or  pendants  in  the  precious 
metals,  necklaces,  bracelets  and  bangles  of  vari 
colored  gems, — all  such  rich  treasure  from  the 
seemingly  inexhaustible  storehouse  of  antiquity 


Professor  Ranney's  Manuscript    3 

as  would  be  most  likely  to  tempt  the  antiqua 
rian,  or  dazzle  the  mere  man  of  millions  seeking 
to  enrich  his  curio  cabinet  or  the  shelves  of  his 
pet  museum  or  institution. 

During  the  course  of  an  unusually  hot  after 
noon  in  late  March  three  Europeans  paused  at 
the  threshold  of  Tanos '  shop. 

Following  their  exit  from  the  Ezbekiyeh  Gar 
dens  their  footsteps  had  been  dogged  by  that 
genial  soul,  Ali  Nubi,  whose  efforts  to  dispose 
of  fly-whisks  and  sunshades  were  in  no  wise 
affected  by  the  temperature.  He  was  soon 
joined  by  a  troupe  of  exceedingly  dirty  Arab 
children.  These  turned  handsprings  along  the 
gutter  in  hopes  of  some  small  coin  with  which 
to  buy  loukum. 

Finally,  the  nerves  of  the  three  Europeans 
hajd  been  set  on  edge  by  the  insistent  whine  of 
a  deformed  Egyptian,  whose  ceaseless  cry  for 
dole,  "baksheesh,  baksheesh,  ya  khawageh," 
finally  caused  one  of  the  trio  to  turn  upon  him 
with  an  impatient,  Allah  yalik,  kelb  ibn  kelb. 
This,  in  plain  English,  might  be  rendered, 


Hank:  the  Enchantress 


"May  God  give  to  thee,  dog,  son  of  a  dog,"  at 
once  a  pious  wish  and  a  curse. 

The  sound  of  the  guttural  Arabic  sufficed  to 
scatter  at  one  and  the  same  instant  all  three 
disturbing  elements. 

The  ragged  boys  fled.  Ali  Nubi  sauntered  off 
to  display  his  merchandise  and  his  famous  smile 
elsewhere,  whilst  the  cripple,  with  a  frightened 
glance  up  and  down  the  street,  made  off  as  fast 
as  his  deformities  would  allow.  The  white  man 
was  doubtless  <a  pasha,  a  bey.  Abut  Talib  felt 
the  sting  of  the  bastinado  upon  his  withered 
limbs! 

With  a  laugh  the  "bey"  turned  to  his  com 
panions  : 

"Enter,  Mrs.  Gardiner!  After  you,  Clem!  I 
want  you  to  see  my  latest  find." 

Professor  Ranney  followed  his  companions 
into  the  shop.  In  answer  to  his  call  Tanos  him 
self  appeared  at  the  door  of  the  sanctum.  His 
face  lit  up  with  a  smile  of  genuine  pleasure 
when  he  recognized  his  visitors. 

He  crossed  the  room  with  that  peculiar  crook- 


Professor  Ranney's  Manuscript    5 

ing  of  the  spine  which  appears  to  be  an  inerad 
icable  heritage  of  the  ages  to  Levantines  of  his 
stamp  wherever  met.  How  well  did  the  Egyp 
tian  sculptor  of  the  late  New  Empire  catch  that 
deferential  abasement  of  self ! 

Professor  Ranney  shook  hands  with  Tanos. 
Gardiner,  too,  greeted  him,  and  introduced  the 
lady  of  the  trio  as  his  bride.  For  an  instant 
Tanos  searched  his  fertile  brains  for  a  suitable 
congratulatory  quotation  from  the  Arabian 
classics.  Oriental  etiquette  demanded  that  he 
rise  to  the  emergency.  Finally,  bending  over 
Mrs.  Gardiner's  hand,  Tanos  murmured  those 
charming  lines  from  Abu  Selim's  poem  on  the 
love  of  Omar  and  Leila. 

"Oh,  Mr.  Tanos!  What  exquisite  verses. 
What  a  wonderful  gift  of  improvisation !" 

Tanos  bowed  again.  He  made  a  deprecatory 
gesture,  murmuring  as  he  did  so  something 
about  the  meter  of  the  second  line. 

Mrs.  Gardiner  shot  a  covert  glance  in  the 
direction  of  her  husband. 

The  minx,  thought  he.    He  well  knew  that  she 


Hanit:  the  Enchantress 


had  recognized  the  true  authorship  of  the 
verses.  Mrs.  Gardiner  had  been  a  former  stu 
dent  of  her  husband  at  the  University  of  Lon 
don,  where  he  taught  Semitics. 

These  small  social  amenities  attended  to, 
Tanos  ushered  his  visitors  into  the  innermost 
room.  In  another  moment  all  four  were  seated 
about  a  low  Turkish  table.  Upon  this  reposed 
two  objects,  a  turquoise-blue  goblet  of  ancient 
Egyptian  pottery  and  a  linen  roll,  seemingly  of 
great  antiquity,  if  one  might  judge  by  its  con 
dition. 

Meeting  the  Gardiners  in  the  tea-house  of  the 
Gardens,  Professor  Eanney  had  urged  them  to 
walk  over  to  the  shop,  in  order  that  they  might 
see  the  contents  of  this  linen  roll,  a  papyrus 
scroll  of  greatest  importance,  not  alone  on  its 
own  account,  but,  more  especially,  for  the  re 
markable  document  which  it  contained. 

Professor  Eanney  carefully  unrolled  the  frail, 
discolored  linen  in  which,  three  thousand  years 
before,  the  scroll  had  been  wrapped.  At  once 


Professor  Ranney's  Manuscript    7 

the  air  was  filled  with  a  strange,  aromatic  per 
fume. 

At  sight  of  the  brightly  painted  vignettes 
which  ornamented  each  and  every  page  of  the 
closely  written  sheets,  Mrs.  Gardiner  burst  into 
repeated  exclamations  of  rapture.  Even  Dr.  Gar 
diner,  her  husband,  who  may  be  said  to  have 
lived  in  an  atmosphere  charged  with  the  odor 
of  ancient  parchments,  could  not  repress  his 
interest.  . 

This  interest  was  intensified  when  he  read,  on 
the  front  page  of  the  manuscript,  the  names  of 
an  ancient  Egyptian  monarch  "Nibmara  Amen- 
hotep,  King  of  Upper  and  Lower  Egypt,  Tri 
umphant." 

1 1  This  is  indeed  a  treasure,  Steven !  A  perfect 
copy  of  the  Book  of  the  Dead.  You  did  well  to 
purchase  it  before  I  got  wind  of  it.  By  Jove ! 
It  is  in  better  condition  than  the  Papyrus  of  Ani 
in  the  British  Museum !" 

Without  replying  Steven  Ranney  turned  to 
the  last  two  pages  of  the  scroll.  Inserted  be- 


8  Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

tween  them  was  a  brown  stained  sheet  of  hiero 
glyphics  written  in  red  ink. 

"Read  this,  Clem.  To  me  it  appears  to  be  a 
find  of  far  more  importance  than  the  Ritual 
itself." 

Gardiner  translated  aloud  the  lines  of  some 
what  tremblingly  written  hieroglyphics : 

11 A  Contract  which  the  Hereditary  Prince, 
the  Count,  Sole  Companion  of  the  King,  In 
structor  of  the  Royal  Princess,  and  Chief  Royal 
Architect,  Amenhotep,  son  of  Hap,  made  with 
Hotepra,  Great  High  Priest  of  Amen. 

"It  is  ordained  that  there  be  given  to  the 
statue  of  Amenhotep  which  is  in  his  tomb  on  the 
western  shore,  1,000  loaves  of  bread,  1,000  fat 
ted  geese,  1,000  jars  of  wine  and  100  bulls,  upon 
the  1st  day  of  the  1st  month  of  the  year,  ivhat 
time  the  servants  bring  presents  to  their  lord, 
and  lights  are  lit  in  house,  in  tomb  and  in  tem 
ple! 

"In  payment  of  this  endowment  of  his  tomb, 
Amenhotep,  son  of  Hap,  engages  to  reveal  to 
Hotepa,  Great  High  Priest  of  Amen,  the  secret 


Professor  Ranney's  Manuscript    9 

hiding-place  of  the  Luminous  Book  of  Thoth, 
Scribe  of  the  Gods! 

"Behold!  Amenhotep,  son  of  Hap,  he  saith: 
'By  the  magic  incantation  contained  within  this 
book  the  Gods  are  compelled!  By  its  hekau- 
charms  the  Boat  of  the  Sun  is  stopped,  the  Moon 
is  darkened! 

"Lo,  he  that  reciteth  tlie  formula  contained 
therein,  may  descend  into  the  Underworld  and 
return  to  mingle  again  with  mortal  men. 

"Lo,  the  possessor  of  this  Book  becomes  as 
the  Scribe  of  the  Gods,  Thoth  himself!  For  Ra 
hath  breathed  upon  it;  Shu  hath  entered  it! 

"Saith  Amenhotep,  son  of  Hap:  ( Behold,  as 
Ra  the  Sungod  liveth,  the  Magic  Book  may  be 
found  in  a  box  behind  the  wall  of  the  false  door 
built  within  the  western  end  of  my  tomb  cham- 
ber.r 

"Now,  Eotepra  heard  the  oath  of  Amenhotep 
and  the  saying  which  he  said. 

"Lo,  Hotepra,  Great  High  Priest  of  Amen, 
believed  the  words  of  the  son  of  Hapi. 


10         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

"Hotepra,  Great  High  Priest  of  Amen,  signed 
tlie  contract,  taking  the  Great  Gods,  Osiris, 
Ptdh  and  Ea  as  witnesses." 

"There,  Clem!  In  all  your  years  of  research 
among  ancient  documents  have  you  ever  run 
across  the  Luminous  Book,  the  Book  of  Thoth? 
Could  it,  by  any  chance,  be  that  mysterious 
book  made  use  of  long  ago  by  the  sorcerers  and 
magician  attached  to  the  great  Temple  of  Amen 
at  Thebes?  If  such  be  the  case,  it  is  an  un 
doubted  reference  to  the  book  from  which  Moses 
studied,  the  source  of  Aaron's  successful  at 
tempt  to  confound  the  magicians  of  Pharaoh. 
At  any  rate,  Clem,  you  will  agree  with  me 
that  this  faded  sheet,  this  last  will  and  testa 
ment  of  the  old  architect,  may  turn  out  to  be  of 
far  greater  interest  than  even  this  splendid 
copy  of  the  Ritual.  I  wonder  if  the  will  was 
placed  in  the  Eitual  on  purpose  or  through  the 
carelessness  of  someone.  Hotepra  himself  it 


Professor  Ranney's  Manuscript  n 

Dr.  Gardiner  smiled  at  his  friend's  enthu 
siasm:  "One  thing  at  a  time,  Steven!  Yes,  I 
have  met  with  the  Book  of  Thoth  before.  And 
in  each  and  every  case  it  was  referred  to  as  a 
book  containing  magical  incantations  of  great 
power.  In  one  case  an  unknown  architect  states 
that  he  'raised  this  monument  whose  pylons 
reach  the  dome  of  heaven  by  means  of  the  magic 
Book  of  Thoth.'  Your  man,  Amenhotep,  son 
of  Hap,  has  left  an  inscription,  now  in  the  Lei 
den  Museum,  in  which  he  affirms  that  he  'pos 
sessed  the  Eye  of  Eorus' — whatever  that  may 
mean — and  further  that  he  was  'one  who  knew 
all  the  Wisdom  contained  in  the  Book  of  Thoth, 
scribe  of  the  Gods.'  That  this  was  no  empty 
boast  we  may  sight  the  stupendous  temples 
raised  by  him  at  Thebes,  not  forgetting  'the 
Colossi,'  which  alone  would  have  assured  him 
undying  fame,  if  indeed  he  erected  them.  The 
tomb  to  which  he  refers  in  this  testament  is 
thought  to  be  beneath  the  Temple  of  Der  el- 
Medinet.  Possibly  it  is  included  in  your  con- 


12         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

cession,  Steven.  Your  men  may  stumble  upon 
the  mummy  of  Amenhotep,  Magic  Book  and 
all!" 

Dr.  Gardiner  turned  to  Ms  wife : "  Well,  Dear ! 
We  must  be  off,  to  help  Ali  with  the  packing.  I 
hope  you  have  a  successful  winding  up  of  the 
diggings,  Steven ! ' ' 

"And  Steven,"  broke  in  his  wife,  "do  let 
those  abominable  old  brick  ruins  alone  and  hunt 
for  the  Book  instead.  By  the  way,  do  you  sup 
pose  Hotepra  had  a  wife?  The  name  is  similar 
to  that  of  Potiphar?" 

"My  dear,"  interposed  Gardiner,  as  he 
assumed  an  expression  of  shocked  delicacy, 
"the  subject  is  hardly  one  for  a  bride  to  discuss, 
especially  as  Great  High  Priests  of  Amen,  by 
the  uninitiated  at  least,  are  presumed  to  have 
had  no  wives." 

He  turned  to  Ranney : '  *  Steven,  we  both  hope 
that  you  can  stop  over  at  'Sevenoaks'  as 
usual,  for  a  few  days  at  least,  on  your  way 
through  to  Liverpool.  Whew !  It  is  difficult  to 
realize  that  we  shall  be  enjoying  the  Mediter 
ranean  breezes  to-morrow.  Which  reminds  me. 


Professor  Ranney's  Manuscript  13 

Tanos,  don't  forget  to  have  the  Museum  au 
thorities  place  their  vise  on  that  statue  of  Isis. 
Benedict  has  his  eagle  eye  upon  it,  and  what 
Benedict  wishes  he  usually  obtains.  A  little 
baksheesh  in  the  clammy  palm  of  Pintsch  Pasha 
will  help  to  get  it  through ! ' ' 

Dr.  Gardiner  turned  again  to  his  wife : ' l  Now, 
Miriam,  don't  drop  that  goblet!  We  could 
never  pay  for  it,  though  I  read  manuscripts 
until  the  crack  of  doom ! ' ' 

With  exaggerated  care  Mrs.  Gardiner  re 
stored  the  beautiful  goblet  to  its  place.  She 
then  shook  hands  with  Tanos,  reiterated  her 
husband's  wish  that  Professor  Ranney  visit 
them  in  their  new  home,  and  left  on  the  arm  of 
Dr.  Gardiner. 

Steven  Eanney  turned  to  the  Greek:  "Tanos, 
put  the  scroll  in  your  safe  until  I  return.  The 
will  of  Amenhotep  I  will  take  with  me.  I  want 
to  show  it  to  Todros  Pasha.  He's  pretty 
familiar  with  the  tombs  of  the  western  bank. 
I'll  see  you  in  about  three  weeks'  time.  Mean 
while,  if  you  manage  to  get  that  statue  of 
Hathor  from  Nahman,  I'll  take  it." 


14         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

With  a  friendly  nod  the  young  American 
again  braved  the  heat  of  the  unprotected  side 
walk. 

Eanney  took  his  way  northward,  along  the 
Sharia  Kamel,  in  the  direction  of  Doctor  Brain- 
tree's  tree-embowered  villa. 

During  his  three  days'  relaxation  from  the 
strain  of  acting  as  chief-of-excavations  amid  the 
heat  and  dust  of  work  in  Upper  Egypt,  Eanney 
had  contrived  to  see  more  of  Susan  Braintree 
than  usually  fell  to  his  lot.  Eanney  had  loved 
her  from  the  very  first  moment  he  had  seen  her, 
and  that  was  as  far  back  as  February,  nearly 
two  months ! 

It  is  unnecessary  to  describe  Susan.  Eanney 
did  that  in  every  letter  he  wrote  home  to  his 
mother  and  sister  in  beautiful  Greenwich,  Con 
necticut.  Susan  was  there  described  as  a  para 
gon  of  beauty  and  sweetness.  Yet,  there  seemed 
to  be  a  fly  in  the  ointment.  A  tall  and  "not  a 
bad  looking  sort  of  chap,"  so  Eanney  described 
him,  a  lieutenant  of  the  Seaforth  Highlanders, 
apparently  caused  Steven  not  a  little  worry.  It 
seemed  that  back  in  their  Highland  home  he 


Professor  Ranney's  Manuscript  15 

lived  in  the  same  Scottish  village  as  the  Brain- 
trees,  brother  and  sister. 

1  'By  George,  I'll  take  old  Amenhotep's  will 
to  Braintree's  dinner  to-night.  I'm  sure  Susan 
will  be  interested;  at  any  rate,  she'll  pretend  to 
be,  bless  her.  Perhaps  she'll  find  it  more  to  her 
taste  than  that  Egyptian  flint  knife  I  showed 
her  yesterday.  Yet,  I  am  surprised  that  a  sur 
geon's  sister,  and  a  head-nurse  at  that,  should 
evince  such  horror  of  a  knife,  even  though  that 
ancient  instrument  had  served  the  embalmer  to 
make  the  last  great  incision." 

Late  that  evening,  after  a  few  short  but  bliss 
ful  hours  spent  by  Susan's  side — Lieutenant 
Angus  Hector  McPherson  being  then  on  duty  at 
the  Garrison — Eanney  threw  his  kitbag  into  a 
sleeper  of  the  night  train  to  Upper  Egypt. 

After  some  ten  hours  of  fitful  sleep  amidst 
the  choking  dust  and  fine  sand  which  would  per 
sist  in  floating  into  the  compartment,  Steven 
Eanney  found  himself  once  again  upon  the  very 
modern  station  platform  of  Thebes,  the  world 's 
most  ancient  city. 


CHAPTER  II 
A  FALL  DOWN  THIRTY  CENTUBTES 

THE  research  work  conducted  by  Professor 
Eanney,  as  chief  of  the  Yale  expedition  to 
Egypt,  had  lain  in  and  about  the  site  of 
the  Mortuary  Temple  of  King  Amenhotep  the 
Third,  well-named  "  Magnificent. "  The  low 
depression  which  to-day  marks  the  site  of  this 
once  gorgeous  edifice  lies  well  down  upon  the 
broad  Theban  Plain,  and  immediately  fronts 
that  long  line  of  rocky  mounds,  refuse  heaps 
and  ruined  tombs  which  rises,  tier  upon  tier, 
along  the  lower  slopes  of  the  towering  Libyan 
Hills. 

It  had  been  a  site  of  rare  possibilities  from  an 
Egyptologist's  point  of  view.  On  this  account 
excavation  privileges  hereabouts  had  been 
sought  by  representatives  of  every  great  mu 
seum  or  seat-of -learning  both  in  the  Old  World 
and  the  New. 

16 


A  Fall  Down  Thirty  Centuries  17 

When,  finally,  the  news  was  telegraphed  from 
Cairo  that  this  most  coveted  concession  had 
fallen  to  the  Yale  Expedition,  and  that  together 
with  a  substantial  area  of  the  unexplored 
mounds  to  the  north  and  south  of  the  temple 
site,  great  had  been  Professor  Ranney's  joy. 

The  recent  unearthing  of  the  body  and  rich 
treasure  of  Pharaoh  Akhtenaton,  son  to  that 
Pharaoh  by  whom  the  temple  was  built,  and  the 
discovery  of  the  rich  and  comprehensive  tomb- 
equipment  of  Akhtenaton 's  father  and  mother- 
in-law,  together  with  the  marvelously  preserved 
mummies  of  those  ancient  worthies,  had  fired 
the  dampened  ardor  both  of  the  workers  in  the 
field,  and,  more  important  still,  perhaps,  of 
those  holders  of  the  purse-strings,  the  sponsors 
for  the  expedition  at  home. 

As  I  have  said  above,  the  site  of  King  Amen- 
hotep's  Mortuary  Temple  had  been  freely  ac 
knowledged  to  be  a  very  promising  one,  and  so 
far  these  hopes  had  been  entirely  justified. 

Many  and  rare  had  been  the  finds  during  the 
season's  work  now  drawing  to  a  close.  And  it 


1 8         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

was  not  improbable  that  some  other  find  of  the 
first  importance  might  still  fall  to  the  spades  of 
the  excavators  during  the  next  few  weeks  of 
work  upon  the  site. 

Think  what  the  nearby  Temple  of  Medinet 
might  at  this  very  moment  hold  for  Pro 
fessor  Eanney!  The  tomb  of  Amenhotep,  son 
of  Hap;  the  Magic  Book  of  the  Sorcerers  of 
Pharaoh,  the  Luminous  Book  of  Thoth ! 

Had  they  had  the  least  suspicion  of  Professor 
Ranney's  secret  it  is  safe  to  say  that  many  of 
his  brother  scientists  would  gladly  have  bar 
tered  five  years  of  their  lives  for  a  chance  at  the 
site.  And  yet,  could  any  one  of  those  enthusiasts 
have  foreseen  the  disaster  that  would  here  befall 
him,  not  a  man  among  them  would  have  ap 
proached  it. 

But  let  us  take  up  the  tale,  as  long  as  we  may, 
in  Professor  Banney's  own  words. 

I  had  recently  completed  my  work  in  and 
about  the  site  of  the  Mortuary  Temple  of  the 
illustrious  Pharoah  Amenhotep  the  Third  and 
had  already  promised  myself  a  trial  excavation 


A  Fall  Down  Thirty  Centuries  19 

at  the  nearby  tomb  of  Pharaoh's  famous  archi 
tect  and  namesake,  Amenhotep,  when  something 
unexpected  occurred  to  effectually  put  an  end  to 
all  my  plans.  What  that  something  was  you 
shall  now  hear  1 

As  near  as  I  can  piece  together  the  amazing 
threads  of  my  story,  this  is  what  happened  to 
me  that  last  eventful  evening  in  Thebes.  My 
diary,  in  part,  supplies  the  clue. 

Under  date  of  April  28, 1913,  and  immediately 
following  the  rough  translation  of  a  great 
memorial  tablet  which  had  been  found  the  pre 
vious  day,  I  note  this  entry:  "Sandstorm  just 
blown  over.  Headache,  feverish.  Finished 
making  plan  of  palace  to  scale." 

Now,  in  spite  of  the  temperature  and  head 
ache  to  which  I  here  refer,  and  which,  had  I  not 
been  so  keen  on  my  work,  I  should  most  cer 
tainly  have  recognized  as  a  symptom  of  trouble 
to  come,  I  had  evidently  sought  to  catch  up 
with  a  somewhat  neglected  report  of  the  sea 
son's  work. 

This  occupation  had  apparently  kept  me  at  my 


2O         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

desk  well  on  towards  dawn.  I  deduce  this  from 
the  fact  that  immediately  following  the  above 
short  entry,  I  find  a  number  of  fragmentary 
hieroglyphic  inscriptions  having  to  do  with  the 
history  of  the  foundation  and  erection  of 
Pharaoh's  Mortuary  Temple,  upon  which  I  had 
been  so  long  at  work. 

One  of  these  entries  is  of  special  interest  in 
this  connection,  since,  after  a  lapse  of  some 
three  thousand  years,  the  two  colossal  statues 
of  King  Amenhotep  III,  to  whom  it  refers,  may 
still  be  seen  gazing  stolidly  and  immutably  east 
ward  across  the  broad  reaches  of  the  Theban 
Plain. 

The  following  graphic  description  of  the  now 
vanished  building  itself,  a  literal  translation 
from  the  original  hieroglyphic,  is  the  last  entry 
in  my  diary,  the  last  for  many  a  long  day,  I  may 
add.  Further,  and  for  an  excellent  reason,  this 
last  entry  was  never  completed.  The  transla 
tion  runs  in  the  following  somewhat  grandilo 
quent  and  semi-poetic  vein:  "It  hath  been  given 
me  to  set  up  in  a  holy  place  two  great  statues 


A  Fall  Down  Thirty  Centuries  21 

of  the  Son  of  Ea,  Amenhotep,  Conqueror  of 
Asia.  These  are  they  which  stand  before  the 
entrance  portal  of  the  Mortuary  Temple  of  His 
Majesty  (Life,  Stability  and  Health  to  him). 
Carved  from  solid  blocks  of  the  hard  grit-stone 
of  On,  they  tower  seventy  feet  into  the  air. 
Their  golden  headdresses  touch  the  very  dome 
of  heaven.  On  either  side,  gold-capped  obelisks 
of  red  granite  reach  high  above  the  temple 
pylons.  Four  cedar  flag-staffs  tipped  with  gold 
rise  from  grooves  cut  in  the  sculptured  sand 
stone  of  the  temple  front.  The  walls  of  the 
temple  are  carved  and  richly  painted  with 
scenes  representing  the  Asiatic  conquests  of 
Pharaoh,  Lord  of  Might.  Its  great  bronze 
doors  are  inlaid  in  gold  with  the  figure  of  the 
God  Min  of  Coptos.  Through  this  jeweled  out 
line  of  his  'double'  twice  daily  doth  the  Great 
God  enter  the  Holy  Sanctuary,  there  to  partake 
of  the  offerings  spread  upon  its  jeweled  altars. 
In  his  honor  are  the  ceilings  covered  with  true 
lazuli  of  Babylon,  its  floors  enriched  with  silver 
and  sprinkled  with  powdered  turquoise.  Its 


22         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

gleaming  walls  are  engraved  with  designs  rep 
resenting  the  New  Year's  procession  of  the  Sun 
Barque,  from  the  Northern  to  the  Southern 
Apt.  Beside  the  High  Altar  stands  a  tablet 
thirty  feet  in  height,  covered  with  gold  and  in 
laid  with  sard  and  emerald.  Thus  is  marked 
'  The-Place-Where-His-Majesty-  Stands-at-the- 
Sacrificing.'  Beq,  son  of  Beq,  carved  the  stat 
ues  and  erected  the  obelisks.  Renney,  the 
Syrian,  overlaid  and  enriched  the  tablet." 

Inserted  here  was  a  drawing  of  the  above 
mentioned  tablet,  and,  upon  it,  the  following 
additional  fragment:  "Memorial-tablet  found 
face  downwards.  I  enclose  drawings  and  trans 
lations.  Evidently  mine  is  a  very  ancient  name? 
All  traces  of ." 

Here  the  diary  abruptly  stops ! 

Now,  I  directly  trace  the  mishap  which  there 
after  befell  me  to  the  discovery  of  this  same 
tablet. 

A  hot  day  spent  in  transcribing  to  paper  its 
mud-filled  inscriptions,  and  a  night  devoted  to 
their  decipherment,  might  well  have  driven  me 


A  Fall  Down  Thirty  Centuries  23 

forth  in  search  of  the  cool  breezes  to  be  found 
along  the  higher  slopes  of  the  nearby  Libyan 
Hills. 

Yet,  in  this  connection,  I  must  not  forget  to 
mention  the  contents  of  a  newspaper-clipping 
sent  me  by  Gardiner  just  before  he  left  Alex 
andria,  a  clipping  which  seems  to  have  a  pecu 
liar  meaning,  especially  in  the  light  of  the 
curious  experiences  which  I  shall  presently 
relate. 

This  clipping  was  found  folded  carefully  in 
the  page  of  my  Diary  opposite  that  last  incom 
plete  entry  to  which  I  have  referred. 

Beneath  a  date  and  the  words  "Sphinx, 
Cairo,"  the  latter  added  in  Gardiner's  spidery 
script,  there  appear  the  following  extraordinary 
paragraphs:  "In  the  Museum  of  the  Louvre 
there  is  a  mummy,  Catalogue  No.  49.  It  is  the 
mummy  of  a  woman,  and  is  said  to  have  been 
found  in  one  of  the  Tombs  of  the  Queens,  south 
west  of  the  Theban  acropolis.  The  man  who 
found  it  was  crushed  to  death  within  twenty- 
four  hours  after  he  had  touched  it,  and  his  as- 


24         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

sistants  who  hauled  it  up  from  the  tombshaft 
died  within  a  few  weeks.  Three  of  the  carriers 
who  handled  it  on  the  Nile  boat  died  within  a 
short  space  of  time,  and  one  of  the  men  who 
unpacked  it  at  Paris  died  in  great  agony  within 
less  than  a  week  after  he  had  played  his  part  in 
the  work  of  getting  it  to  its  destination.  All 
these  were  seemingly  natural  deaths,  but  it  is 
odd  that  all  the  men  whose  fingers  touched  the 
mummy  should  have  died  so  soon  after  the 
handling.  The  body  of  the  unknown  appears  to 
have  been  interred  with  all  the  elaboration  pre 
scribed  for  Queens  of  tlie  Royal-Blood!  The 
work  of  the  casemaker  was  careful  in  the  ex 
treme.  Both  granite  coffin  and  gold-covered 
casing  were  of  unusual  quality  and  richness. 
The  many  gem-incrustations,  with  which  the 
gold  cases  were  inlaid,  were  similarly  of  the 
richest  and  rarest  materials.  Yet,  the  name  of 
Meryt,  that  of  a  minor  priestess  of  the  Temple, 
found  beneath  the  pitch  which  had  been  smeared 
upon  the  outer  casings,  seemed  to  prove  con 
clusively  that  the  body  was  that  of  one  of  the 


A  Fall  Down  Thirty  Centuries  25 

chantresses  of  the  Temple  of  Sekhmet  at  Kar- 
nak. 

* '  But,  following  the  unwinding  of  the  aromatic 
wrappings  which  swathed  the  body,  the  curator 
in  charge  was  surprised  to  find  a  second  in 
scription.  This  indicated  that  the  mummy  was 
that  of  Queen  Hanit,  the  first  wife  of  Amen- 
hotep  the  Third,  whom  the  King  put  aside  in 
favor  of  Thi,  a  beautiful  Syrian.  You  may  recall 
how  Queen  Thi,  following  Hanit 's  incarceration 
in  the  great  Temple  of  Sekhmet,  is  supposed  to 
have  instigated  the  death  of  Hanit 's  son,  the 
true  heir  to  the  throne,  at  the  hands  of  Menna, 
a  favorite  of  hers.  Of  the  further  history  of 
Lady  Hanit  I  personally  know  nothing. ' ' 

Along  the  margin  Gardiner  had  added:  "I 
send  this  to  you,  Ranney,  knowing  your  interest 
in  the  period  which  the  name  of  Hanit  suggests. 
Can  you  unravel  the  mystery  surrounding  the 
mummy  of  this  Queen  who  is  not  a  Queen! 

"In  regard  to  the  sudden  taking  off  of  the 
seven  workmen,  and,  by  the  way,  the  curator  is 
now  dead,  I  can  hear  you  expatiate  at  length 


26         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

upon  the  fearful  'hekau-s pells'  and  'magic  in 
cantations'  of  the  ancients! 

"Once  more  I  ask  you  to  prove  to  me  that  your 
ancients  ever  possessed  such  powers,  or  if  they 
did,  that  they  could  by  any  possible  chance  have 
survived  the  wear  and  tear  of  three  thousand 
years!  And,  meanwhile,  allow  me  to  submit 
myself,  your  unbelieving  friend!" 

I  smile  even  now,  as  I  shake  my  head  at  Gar 
diner's  careless  words. 

What  can  I  but  think?  Childish,  you  say !  A 
series  of  remarkable  coincidences!  Wait! 

It  was  from  Burton  that  I  first  heard  an  ac 
count  of  what  he  and  the  other  members  of  the 
expedition  supposed,  and  rightly,  had  happened 
to  me. 

It  seemed  that  I  left  my  tent  about  dawn  and 
started  for  one  of  my  favorite  walks  westward, 
taking  the  general  direction  of  a  certain  lofty 
spur  of  the  deep  red  Libyan  Hills.  This  jutting 
ledge  immediately  overhung  the  ruins  of  King 
Mentu-hotep 's  temple.  So  close  a  part  of  the 
towering  cliff  is  this  sadly  mutilated  structure 


A  Fall  Down  Thirty  Centuries  27 

that  one  might  easily  slip  from  the  shelf  above 
and  fall  directly  upon  the  great  stone  passage 
way  which  conducts  to  the  inner  chamber. 

To  this  somewhat  dangerous  vantage-point,  I 
had  sometimes  taken  distinguished  visitors  to 
our  camp,  people  who  had  come  with  letters 
from  friends  at  home,  or  those  who  I  felt  sure 
would  be  willing  to  put  up  with  the  discomforts 
of  a  night  spent  beyond  the  walls  of  the  luxuri 
ous  Winter  Palace  Hotel. 

I  think  I  may  say  truthfully,  that  not  one  of 
my  visitors  failed  of  being  more  than  repaid  for 
any  trifling  discomfort  which  was  theirs,  since 
few  scenes  can  equal,  certainly  none  surpass,  the 
view  presented  by  the  extended  vista  north, 
south  and  eastward  across  the  winding  Nile 
Valley  towards  Karnak,  Luxor,  and  the  deep 
blue  Eastern  Hills. 

But  to  return  to  my  story.  That  memorable 
morning  the  fever  must  assuredly  have  had  me 
well  within  its  clutches.  Since,  of  that  early 
morning  walk,  I  remember  but  a  single  incident — 
Heaven  knows,  I  am  never  likely  to  forget  it — 


28         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

a  great  black  void  into  which  I  suddenly  pitched, 
a  horrible  tingling  in  all  my  veins,  a  shock  and  a 
myriad  of  little  flames  that  seemed  to  burst 
from  my  very  eyeballs ! 

Was  I  conscious,  I  asked  myself?  I  must  be, 
for  I  seemed  to  realize  at  once  what  a  dreadful 
thing  had  happened  to  me. 

Of  course,  I  knew  I  had  pitched  headlong  into 
the  open  mouth  of  one  of  those  rock-hewn  tombs 
with  which  the  tumbled  slopes  below  the  Libyan 
Hills  are  perforated.  Well  might  those  crum 
bling  hills  been  named  a  honey-comb  of  death! 

I  could  not  move;  my  whole  body  seemed 
numb.  By  gazing  upward  I  found  that  I  could 
see  the  stars!  Yes,  I  recognized  the  star  of 
Hathor,  in  all  her  radiant  beauty. 

How  my  head  ached !  How  my  ears  roared ! 
Worse  than  all  was  the  agony  of  a  ceaseless 
throb-throb,  beat-beat,  at  the  back  of  my  head. 

It  was  as  though  someone  were  hitting  me 
with  a  hammer,  rhythmically,  relentlessly. 

Perhaps  after  all  I  was  dead? 


A  Fall  Down  Thirty  Centuries  29 

No,  there  were  the  sharp  outlines  of  the  tomb- 
shaft  and  the  stars  above ! 

I  wonder  whose  tomb  it  is?  Is  it  charted? 
Oh,  will  that  throbbing  never  stop!  Won't 
someone  come  ?  Help !  Help ! 

As  if  in  answer  to  my  cry,  high  above  me  I 
saw  a  queer,  yet  strikingly  familiar  figure,  a 
figure  silhouetted  black  against  the  sky. 

The  figure  leaned  over  and  gazed  downwards 
into  the  shaft.  I  noticed  its  long  and  thickly 
curled  wig. 

' '  Ha,  ha !  A  wig  of  the  New  Empire, ' '  said  I 
to  myself. 

Its  owner 's  face  I  could  not  see,  but  he — or 
she — yes,  it  was  a  woman,  peered  long  and 
earnestly  into  the  gloomy  depths  of  the  shaft 
where  I  lay. 

Suddenly,  and  as  though  through  the  medium 
of  some  unnatural  light,  her  face  was  revealed. 

"I  was  right,"  thought  I.  "It  is  a  woman, 
and  by  her  robes,  a  woman  of  the  New  Em 
pire  ! ' ' 


3O         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

But  what  features,  what  an  expression! 
Never  shall  I  forget  it.  A  face  of  the  most 
exotic  beauty;  of  a  type  I  knew  instantly.  It 
could  only  have  "belonged  to  one  of  the  ladies 
of  the  house  of  Amenhotep  the  Magnificent! 
Such  a  face  the  Eoyal  Sculptor  Beq  might  carve, 
or  Amenhotep,  Superintendent  of  the  Royal 
Craftsmen. 

The  beautiful  apparition  addressed  me  in  the 
soft  tones  of  the  educated  Egyptian. 

I  found  that  I  could  rise  without  difficulty  at 
her  bidding.  Struggling  to  my  feet  I  pushed  a 
stone  at  the  side  of  the  tomb  chamber  and 
passed  through  a  narrow  false  door  which 
opened  as  my  hand  pressed  the  secret  block.  I 
found  myself  once  more  out  under  the  sunset 
glow. 

All  this  seemed  perfectly  natural  to  me.  But, 
I  remember  thinking  how  strange  it  was  that  I 
should  find  the  pyramids  of  the  Antefs  and 
Mentuhoteps,  the  sphinx-lined  Causeways,  and 
the  many  Mortuary  Temples  hereabouts,  stand 
ing  clearly  defined  against  the  hills,  and  seem- 


A.  Fall  Down  Thirty  Centuries  31 

ingly  in  all  their  original  beauty.  Nay,  the  very 
cypresses,  palms,  karobs  and  myrrh  trees  which 
flanked  the  ivory-toned  Causeway  leading  to 
Queen  Hatshep-sut's  Temple,  were  to  be  seen 
nodding  gracefully  in  the  evening  breeze. 

My  gaze  fell  questionably  upon  the  smiling 
face  of  my  adorable  savior. 

She  must  have  remarked  my  bewilderment. 
Yet,  without  a  word  she  turned  and  started 
swiftly  toward  a  small  white  house  half-con 
cealed  in  a  dense  grove  of  feathery  acacias. 

In  response  to  a  quick  gesture  on  the  part  of 
my  guide,  I  pulled  back  the  wooden  bolt  and 
opened  the  door.  A  tall  and  strikingly  hand 
some  Eygptian  arose  from  an  ivory-inlaid  stool 
as  I  entered.  Carefully  rolling  up  a  manuscript 
which  he  had  been  reading  by  the  light  of  an  oil 
lamp,  and  without  otherwise  appearing  to  notice 
me,  he  took  from  the  table  nearby  a  blue  glazed 
goblet,  handed  it  to  my  rescuer,  and  re-seated 
himself. 

Once  again  he  picked  up  the  discarded  manu 
script  and  continued  his  reading  as  though 


32         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

nothing  had  happened  to  interrupt  his  train"  of 
thought. 

Perhaps,  after  all,  I  had  been  expected!  I 
heard  my  charming  guide  utter  the  one  softly 
sibilant  Egyptian  word:  Drink! 

I  lifted  the  bright  blue  goblet  to  my  lips  and 
drank  deeply,  thirstily.  .  .  . 


CHAPTER  III 

ENANA,  THE  MAGICIAN,  WOULD  PROVE  THAT  A 
RESEMBLANCE  BETWEEN  A  QUEEN  AND  A 
PRIESTESS  MAY  BE  TURNED  TO  His  ADVAN 
TAGE. 

THE  sloping  walls  of  the  Temple  of 
Amenra  loomed  black  and  forbidding 
against  the  pallid  light  of  early  morning. 

The  tall  cedar  flag-poles  fronting  the  entrance 
pylons  and  the  gold-capped  shafts  of  the  four 
granite  obelisks  seemed  carved  in  ebony,  so 
sharply  were  their  dark  lines  defined. 

No  sound  came  from  within;  no  life  was  ap 
parent  in  the  wide  domain  of  cultivated  fields 
which  surrounded  the  temple  on  three  sides. 
There  was  no  sign  of  life  upon  the  temple 
barges  moored  to  the  sandstone  landing  at  the 
temple  front. 

A  long  line  of  cranes  flew  slowly,  noiselessly, 
across  the  moon,  now  rapidly  sinking  into  the 

33 


34         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

blue  haze  which  floated  above  the  Western  Hills. 

Within  the  temple  precinct,  in  a  small  cham 
ber  lit  by  the  fitful  light  of  a  six- wicked  lamp 
which  swung  out  from  the  wall  at  the  end  of  a 
pole,  a  restless  figure  bent  from  time  to  time 
above  a  form  stretched  at  length  upon  a  high 
couch. 

The  figure  was  that  of  a  woman,  a  woman 
dead  and  to  a  certain  extent  disfigured  by  the 
scalpel  and  fat-extracting  implements  of  the  em- 
balmer  who  now  bent  over  her. 

On  a  low  bench  beside  him  were  spread  out 
the  many  bronze  and  flint  utensils  of  his  craft. 

Kathi,  the  Embalmer,  made  the  last  great  in 
cision.  With  a  long,  flat  and  minutely  serrated 
flint  knife,  he  laid  open  a  good  six  inches  of  the 
flesh  immediately  above  the  heart.  Having  ex 
tracted  that  organ  he  carefully  placed  it  in  an 
alabaster  jar  filled  almost  to  the  brim  with  aro 
matic  spirits.  On  top  of  the  jar  he  set  the  cover, 
a  cover  crowned  with  a  tinted  portrait-head  of 
the  deceased.  Three  similar  jars  containing  the 


Enana,  the  Magician  35 

viscera,  brains  and  other  organs  liable  to  rapid 
decay,  had  already  been  hermetically  sealed. 

So  quickly  comes  the  dawn  in  Egypt  that,  by 
this  time,  one  could  readily  distinguish  the  in 
scription  in  letters  of  dark  blue  which  sym 
metrically  filled  a  square  at  the  shoulder  of  each 
vase: 

"An  oblation  which  the  King  bestows  to  the 
Royal  Spouse,  His  Beloved,  Hanit,  Triumphant. 
Ten  thousand  oxen  and  fowl,  ten  thousand  jars 
of  wine,  ten  thousand  loaves  of  bread,  funerary 
raiment  for  the  rewrapping  of  this  body,  all 
things  pure  and  good  for  the  soul  of  the  de 
ceased  Queen,  His  Beloved,  the  Lady  Hanit, 
Justified  of  God." 

Being  at  one  and  the  same  time  Embalmer  to 
the  King,  Chief  Surgeon  and  Magician,  as  he 
macerated  the  shriveled  flesh,  Kathi  recited  the 
prescribed  Ritual  from  the  Book  of  the  Dead 
and  consecrated  the  many  amuletic  jewels  and 
pendants  with  which  he  now  proceeded  to 
decorate  the  body. 


36         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

Each  limb  received  at  his  hand  the  anointing 
that  rendered  it  incorruptible  and  the  magical 
charms  and  incantations  that  should  sustain  the 
spark  of  life. 

This  done,  Kathi  placed  a  heavy  amulet  in  the 
cavity  whence  he  had  extracted  the  heart,  a 
great  emerald  beetle,  inscribed  beneath  with  a 
prayer  for  justification  and  absolution  ad 
dressed  to  the  Judge  of  the  Dead,  Osiris. 

It  did  not  enter  Kathi 's  head  that  he  was 
trying  to  dupe  Osiris  by  thus  inserting  a  heavy 
stone  heart  in  place  of  the  real  organ.  Kathi 
merely  wished  to  be  sure  that  the  heart  would 
tip  the  scales  against  the  great  God's  " Feather 
of  Truth, "  when  the  deceased  was  led  into  the 
Hall  of  the  Underworld  for  Judgment. 

Having  placed  the  emerald  heart  in  position, 
the  Embalmer  set  a  long  oval  plaque  of  gold 
immediately  above  it,  drew  together  the  clean- 
cut  flesh  and  sewed  up  the  wound. 

A  small  iron  amulet,  the  Two  Fingers  of 
Horus,  he  placed  in  the  hand,  and  the  deli 
cate  jewels  of  the  deceased,  chains  of  minute 


Enana,  the  Magician  37 

carnelian  emerald,  garnet  and  amethyst  pend 
ants,  he  strung  about  the  throat.  Low  upon  the 
breast  he  placed  a  beaded  wesekh,  a  broad 
jeweled  pectoral  ornament  which,  more  than  a 
thousand  years  before  his  time,  King  Kufu 
had  called  the  national  ornament  of  his  people. 
Upon  the  head  he  set  one  of  the  huge  pleated 
wigs  of  the  day,  confining  it  with  a  diadem  of 
gold  decorated  at  intervals  with  gold  lotus 
flowers  in  high  relief.  Gold  earrings  of  rosette 
form  were  set  in  the  ears,  broad  jeweled  bands 
slipped  upon  the  arms,  wrists  and  ankles,  and 
Kathi,  the  Embalmer,  commenced  to  wrap  the 
body  in  the  first  few  score  feet  of  aromatic 
linen  bandages. 

The  Embalmer  rested  a  moment,  hand  on  hip. 
Humming  absently  to  himself  he  turned  to  trim 
the  spluttering  lamp.  It  was  an  occupation 
which  consumed  altogether  too  much  of  his  time. 

Kathi 's  back  being  turned  for  a  moment,  he 
failed  to  see  the  bent  figure  of  Enana,  the 
Magician,  who  glided  into  the  dimly  lit  room. 

"Thou  hast  succeeded,  son  of  Kathi?" 


38         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

At  his  repressed  but  high-pitched  voice, 
Kathi,  son  of  Kathi,  swung  about,  startled  for 
an  instant  out  of  his  wonted  calm  and  im 
mobility.  He  turned  to  close  the  door  before 
replying.  "As  thou  sayest,  Holiness,  I  have 
succeeded.  'Tis  but  a  few  short  minutes  since 
Thi  and  Menna  stood  where  thou  standest  at  this 
very  moment.  The  Syrian  shed  real  tears  above 
the  body  of  that  poor  wench  there.  To  her 
'twas  Hanit,  doubt  not."  Kathi  smiled  some 
what  sadly  as  he  gazed  down  upon  the  figure  at 
his  feet:  "In  death  the  Lady  Meryt's  striking 
resemblance  to  Hanit,  our  beloved  Queen,  was 
most  pronounced.  And,  following  my  work 
upon  the  head,  the  Lady  Meryt's  own  mother 
could  hardly  have  chosen  between  them. 

"I  noted  a  hint  of  suspicion  in  Henna's  eyes 
the  moment  he  entered  the  room.  Yet,  this 
instantly  vanished,  when  once  he  had  looked 
upon  the  body.  He  smiled.  Menna  no  longer 
fears  that  Hanit  will  take  vengeance  for  the 
murder  of  her  son.  To  Menna,  as  to  Thi,  the 
body  is  that  of  Hanit.  Their  triumph  seems  to 


Enana,  the  Magician  39 

them  assured.  Hanit  and  Wazmes,  her  son,  are 
dead.  Thi's  son  reigns!  The  Syrian  sun-god 
triumphs  over  Amen ! ' ' 

Enana,  Chief  Magician  of  the  Temple  of 
Amen,  rubbed  together  his  lean  and  shriveled 
hands.  His  experiment  seemed  well  on  the  road 
to  success. 

A  Pharaoh  might  set  aside  one  queen  for 
another;  the  late  Pharoah  had  done  that.  He 
might  depose  a  queen  of  the  line  of  the  sun-god 
Ea  in  favor  of  Thi,  a  Syrian,  a  commoner.  Be 
guiled  by  the  latter 's  crafty  wiles  he  might  close 
his  eyes  to  the  murder  of  an  inconvenient  son  or 
so.  'Twas  harem  work  that !  But,  to  strike  at 
the  great  God  Amenra  whom  Enana  served — 
that  was  a  different  matter ! 

Thi,  the  Queen-Mother,  was  a  foreigner,  an 
idolator.  The  present  Chancellor  was  also  a 
Syrian,  Yakab  of  Eabbath. 

Was  it  to  be  wondered  at  that  the  present 
Pharaoh,  Thi's  son,  was  daily  urged  to  over 
throw  the  gods  whom  Egypt  worshiped  in 
favor  of  Aton,  the  Syrian  god? 


40         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

But  what  then  would  become  of  the  great  gods 
Amen,  Ptah  and  Khonsu ;  of  Osiris,  Isis,  Horus, 
and  a  host  of  deities  worshiped  through  count 
less  ages  along  the  valley  of  the  Nile?  And  last, 
but  well  to  the  fore  in  Enana 's  vision,  what 
would  become  of  the  innumerable  priests,  him 
self  included,  who  served  those  powerful  gods? 

Yes !  Menna  could  strangle  Hanit 's  only  son, 
the  lawful  heir ;  Thi  could  seek  to  poison  Hanit ! 
But,  touch  the  cult  of  Amen  of  Thebes  and,  at  a 
word,  the  great  priestly  hierarchy  throughout 
Egypt  would  rise  as  one  man. 

So,  at  least,  thought  Enana.  So  too  Huy,  First 
Prophet  of  Amen,  his  brother,  and  so  Kathi,  the 
Embalmer,  their  hireling. 

If  it  was  to  resolve  Itself  into  a  clash  between 
Court  and  Temple  (and,  certainly,  recent  events 
had  pointed  to  a  rupture)  Enana  and  the 
Prophets  of  Amen  were  ready. 

Enana's  small  black  eyes  fixed  themselves 
upon  those  of  the  Embalmer  who  perceptibly 
cringed.  He  laid  one  thin  hand  upon  Kathi 's 
shoulder :  "  Son  of  Kathi,  thy  skill  is  that  of  thy 


Enana,  the  Magician  41 

revered  father  (peace  in  Aaru  be  his),  nay, 
more  excellent !  For  what  man  was  ever  called 
upon  to  do  the  work  that  thou  hast  donef" 
Enana  pointed  to  the  figure  lying  half -concealed 
in  the  shadows  of  the  room.  "  Verily  in  thee 
hath  Amen  a  faithful  follower,  one  whose 
reward  shall  surely  find  him. 

' '  Listen,  son  of  Kathi.  The  long-expected  hour 
has  come.  Pharaoh,  Thi  and  the  Syrians  about 
them  can  no  longer  conceal  their  plan  to  bring 
about  a  civil  war.  Jealous  of  our  power,  Thi  and 
Yakab  have  decided  to  challenge  the  supremacy 
of  all-mighty  Amen.  The  priesthood  of  Egypt 
is  to  be  overthrown.  Hook-nosed  Syrians  and 
Canaanites  are  to  be  installed  in  our  stead,  and 
our  beloved  banks  of  Hapi  are  to  be  overrun 
with  the  kinsmen  of  Yakab,  the  Chancellor,  may 
the  twenty-four  demigods  blast  him! 

"Yet,  mark  my  words,  son  of  Kathi.  Though 
Aton  seem  to  triumph  yet,  in  the  end,  shall 
Amen  find  his  own.  Though  all  the  powers  of 
the  conjurers  of  Amen  be  counted  in  vain,  yet 
shall  Amen  triumph  through  Enana,  his  ser- 


42         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

vant.  More  I  cannot  tell  thee  at  this  time. 
Yet,  through  troublous  days  to  come,  remember 
my  words. ' ' 

With  a  muttered  farewell  the  aged  Magician 
shuffled  off  down  the  narrow  acacia-bordered 
path  which  led  to  the  landing-stage  by  the  side 
of  the  river. 

Kathi  stood  watching  Enana's  bent  figure 
until  it  disappeared  down  the  sandstone  steps 
which  led  to  the  ferry. 

Like  Enana,  his  master,  Kathi  was  above  all 
a  devoted  follower  of  the  great  god  Amen, 
whose  worship  the  Queen-Mother  now  sought  to 
destroy. 

Yet,  of  late,  there  had  been  many  moments 
such  as  this  when  Kathi  had  felt  the  bow-string 
at  his  throat,  the  arms  of  the  strangler  about 
his  neck.  Kings  deal  harshly  with  conspirators 
and  Kathi,  the  Embalmer,  whose  horizon  might 
well  be  said  to  have  been  circumscribed  by 
death,  feared  to  die. 

Kathi 's  fears  were  somewhat  dissipated  at 
sight  of  the  onrushing  sun-god,  now  vaulting 


Enana,  the  Magician  43 

higher  and  higher  above  the  rosy  Eastern  Hills. 
He  stretched  forth  his  hands,  palms  upward,  in 
that  appealing  attitude  of  prayer  so  suggestive 
of  a  spiritual  offering. 

On  the  river  below  him  the  boatmen  burst 
into  the  Hymn  to  Ra  at  his  Rising,  which  had 
been  first  sung  by  the  Sage  and  Prophet  Im- 
hotep,  two  thousand  years  before  their  time ! 

Nature,  too,  added  her  welcome  to  the  nurtur 
ing  sun-god.  The  falcons  sailed  in  great  circles 
above  the  flashing  waters  of  the  river.  To  their 
shrill  and  quavering  notes,  intermingled  with 
the  joyous  twitterings  and  flitterings  back  and 
forth  of  other  birds,  there  was  added  the  soft 
lowing  of  the  sacred  cows  and  the  shrill  chatter 
ing  of  the  apes  belonging  to  the  Temple  of  Mut 
in  Asheru. 

Beams  of  light  seemed  to  dance  upon  the  gold 
caps  of  the  lofty  obelisks.  Huge  streamers  rose 
upon  the  flag-poles  which  fronted  the  great 
portal  of  the  sun-god's  mightiest  temple. 

Along  the  walls  of  the  temple  of  the  deified 
King  Thomes,  a  phyle  of  chanting  priests 


44         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

moved  slowly,  the  keri  Ineb  with  his  tube-like 
censer  at  their  head.  Kathi  found  it  next  to 
impossible  to  believe  that  a  hideous  civil  war 
was  about  to  burst  upon  such  peace  as  this. 

Kathi  shook  his  head.    He  turned  once  more 
to  his  unfinished  task  within. 


CHAPTEE  IV 
How  BHANAB  CAME  TO  THEBES 

IT  was  about  the  third  hour  of  the  auspicious 
sixteenth  day  of  Athyr.  On  the  river  a 
high-prowed  galley  of  foreign  cut  could  be 
seen  attempting  to  gain  the  western  landing 
under  her  own  sail.  This  great  sail,  pictur 
esquely  marked  with  broad  stripes  of  green  and 
dull  red,  spread  itself  to  the  fitful  breeze  with 
but  little  effect. 

Suddenly  a  raucous  command  rang  out.  At 
once,  as  if  the  command  had  been  momentarily 
expected,  twenty  oars  were  thrust  out  from  the 
vessel's  sides,  twenty  lusty  throats  called  aloud 
upon  the  name  of  some  god  or  beneficent  demon, 
and  at  each  shout  the  great  blades  took  the 
water  and  the  vessel  sprang  shoreward,  a  line 
of  bubbles  and  swirling  eddies  in  her  wake. 

A  pilot  stood  at  prow  and  stern.  The  bow 
pilot  held  a  mooring-stake  and  mallet  ready  in 
his  hand.  A  pair  of  buffers  already  hung  over 

45 


46         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

the  vessel's  sides.  It  was  often  a  dangerous 
matter  to  pick  a  path  through  the  many  barges, 
war-galleys,  sea-going  vessels  and  lesser  river 
craft  which  were  strung  out  as  far  as  the  eye 
could  see  along  the  western  bank  of  the  Nile. 

"By  Hathor,"  said  Nakht,  a  fieldhand,  as  he 
fixed  his  tired  eyes  upon  the  oncoming  galley, 
11  a  man  who  can  scull,  row,  and  swim  as  can  I, 
should  have  a  place  upon  some  such  vessel. 
Think  of  the  life  those  dirty  Amu  lead!"  All 
foreigners  were  Amu  to  Nakht,  sand-dwellers 
and  loathed  for  their  filthy  habits  and  the  lice 
that  covered  them. 

"Aye,  Nakht!  Thou  mayest  well  envy  them. 
Think  of  the  days  and  nights  in  port,  ever  with 
gold  uten  to  spend.  Think  of  Thethi's  wine, 
Aua's  dancing  girls,  a  brawl  with  the  city  watch 
men — more  damned  foreigners ! 

"Ai,  ai!  Once  I  knew  it  well!  See  this  scar. 
'Twas  Thethi  himself  gave  it  me.  We  were 
young  men  then,  both  as  quick  as  southern 
panthers. 

"Breath  of  Ea!     How  many  maidens  and 


How  Bhanar  Came  to  Thebes    47 

hapless  youths  think  you  Baltu  brings  to  Thebes 
this  trip?" 

A  sharp  blow  from  the  staff  of  the  overseer 
cut  short  this  soliloquy.  Once  again  began  the 
splashing  of  waters  mingled  with  the  droning 
song  of  the  irrigation  worker:  "Life  to  this 
seed,  0  Waters,  Breath  of  Osiris,  Blood  of  Isis  I 
Life  to  these  our  seedlings  that  we  may  eat  and 
live  to  sing  thy  praises." 

The  galley  drifted  slowly  to  the  bank.  The 
oars  were  drawn  in;  the  great  steering-oars 
alone  guided  her. 

The  emblem  at  the  prow  of  the  vessel  showed 
her  to  hail  from  Tyre.  Her  freight,  as  Nakht 
had  hinted,  consisted  in  the  main  of  hapless 
youths  and  maidens  torn  from  the  arms  of  their 
murdered  parents,  enveigled  from  their  homes 
by  false  promises  or  bought  outright  in  foreign 
slave-marts. 

Among  the  jostling  crowds  gathered  upon  the 
embankment  and  overlooking  the  clustered  ves 
sels,  stood  Benny,  the  Syrian.  His  gaze  was 
fixed  upon  the  forms  of  two  little  children  busily 


48         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

occupied  in  modeling  dolls  from  the  plastic  Nile 
mud  of  the  river  bank.  The  children's  occupa 
tion  had  interested  him  since  Eenny,  the  Syrian, 
was  a  sculptor. 

Renny  was  startled  out  of  his  state  of  artistic 
introspection  by  the  harsh  voices  of  a  number 
of  the  foreign  sailors.  They  had  jumped  ashore 
from  the  Tyrian  galley  and  now  sought  to  jostle 
their  way  up  the  steep  and  crowded  bank. 

While  these  swarthy  adventurers  drove  in  the 
mooring-stake,  Eenny 's  eyes  roamed  along  the 
deck  of  the  galley  itself.  As  he  gazed  at  the 
ordered  cases  of  merchandise,  which  had  but 
recently  been  brought  up  on  deck  preparatory 
to  their  unloading,  three  figures  emerged  from  a 
cabin  door  placed  toward  the  stern  of  the  vessel. 

Renny  instantly  decided  that  the  first  of  the 
three,  a  huge  man  heavily  bearded  and  with  a 
commanding  eye  and  voice  of  thunder,  was  the 
master  and  probable  owner  of  the  vessel.  The 
second  was  a  dainty  youth,  of  a  nation  unknown 
to  Renny;  the  third  a  woman,  by  her  robes  a 
Syrian  like  himself. 


How  Bhanar  Came  to  Thebes    49 

The  merchant  made  some  remark  in  a  tongue 
unknown  to  Renny  and,  at  the  same  time, 
pointed  shoreward.  The  trembling  youth  re 
plied  by  throwing  the  long  sleeve  of  his  rich! 
robe  over  his  head,  a  gesture  indicative  of  grief 
or  despair. 

But  Benny  was  far  more  interested  in  the 
figure  of  the  Syrian,  his  countrywoman. 

What  heartless  parent  had  sold  that  drooping 
figure  into  harsh  captivity!  What  disastrous 
war  had  resulted  in  her  present  plight?  Or 
had  this  hook-nosed  Semite  filched  her  from  her 
nest  high  up  above  some  gentle  Syrian  valley? 

The  sculptor 's  heart  ached  for  her.  Thoughts 
of  his  own  beloved  vineyard  flashed  through  his 
mind.  For  an  instant  he  visualized  the  purple 
hills  which  encircled  Ribba,  his  native  village, 
the  clear  blue  sky,  the  sparkling  stream,  his 
father's  white-walled  house  and  the  little  temple 
which  stood,  well  nigh  hidden,  near  the  edge  of 
an  ancient  grove. 

Poor  little  exile !  Never  had  Renny  so  longed 
for  power,  for  heavy  golden  uten,  as  he  did  at 


50         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

that  moment.  Instinctively  he  gripped  the 
single  bar  that  encircled  his  left  wrist.  He 
smiled  sadly.  Fifty,  nay,  a  hundred  such,  might 
not  buy  her  freedom,  and  this  single  golden  bar 
represented  the  fruits  of  two  years'  untiring 
labor  under  the  patronage  of  a  great,  if 
capricious,  noble. 

Suddenly  his  gaze  riveted  itself  more  intently 
upon  the  drooping  figure  of  the  Syrian  woman. 
It  could  not  be!  Yes!  He  knew  her!  'Twas 
Bhanar,  a  maid  of  Eibba,  of  Eibba  itself,  his 
dear  Syrian  village ! 

Could  his  eyes  have  played  him  false?  He 
sauntered  carelessly  toward  the  Phoenician  ves 
sel.  Yes !  It  was  Bhanar,  playmate  of  his  boy 
hood,  Bhanar  whom  his  dead  sister  had  loved  so 
devotedly. 

In  vain  he  sought  to  attract  her  attention. 
Finally,  through  an  inspiration,  Benny  turned 
towards  the  east  and  gave  the  shrill  cry  of  the 
Syrian  hillmen  when  danger  threatened. 

The  effect  was  instantaneous.  Bhanar 's 
drooping  form  slowly  raised  itself.  Astonish- 


How  Bhanar  Came  to  Thebes    51 

ment,  joy  and  instant  recognition  passed 
rapidly  over  her  beautiful  face. 

She  had  seen  him;  she  knew  him!  With  a 
warning  gesture  Eenny  slowly  reclimbed  the 
embankment. 

How  to  save  her?  To  whom  could  he  turn  for 
help? 

His  master — the  noble  Menna?  Small  hope 
there!  The  Queen-Mother,  herself  a  Syrian? 
Yes,  he  would  attempt  to  reach  the  ear  of  the 
powerful  Queen-Mother  herself ! 

To  do  so,  he  must  act  quickly.  Yakab,  her 
Syrian  chancellor,  should  be  seen  and  quickly. 
Yakab  was  an  importation  of  the  Queen-Mother, 
and  a  favorite  of  hers. 

Renny  found  Yakab  seated  beside  the  pool  in 
his  garden.  He  affected  to  be  absorbed  in  a 
game  of  draughts  with  his  youngest  daughter. 

In  a  few  hurried  words  Renny  acquainted  him 
with  the  plight  of  their  countrywoman  and 
begged  his  instant  help.  He  drew  the  golden 
bracelet  from  his  wrist  but  Yakab,  smiling, 
stopped  him. 


52         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

The  latter  rose  and  in  a  few  short  words  set 
Benny's  mind  at  rest. 

In  fact,  within  the  minute,  they  had  parted  at 
Yakab's  stucco  gate,  Yakab  to  take  a  short  cut 
to  the  palace,  Benny  to  take  his  way  along  the 
river  bank  toward  the  vast  estates  of  Menna, 
the  Boyal  Superintendent,  his  exalted  protector. 


CHAPTER  V 

THE  PLEASURE  BARGE  OF  THI,  THE  QUEEN- 
MOTHER 

DURING  his  reign,  Pharaoh  Amenhotep, 
the  Magnificent,  had  set  aside  or  in 
fringed  upon  many  an  established  prec 
edent  or  custom.  It  almost  seemed  as  if  he  had 
thus  sought  to  prove  to  his  subjects  his  utter 
infatuation  for  Thi,  the  Syrian,  his  second  wife. 

For  the  late  Pharaoh  had  done  nothing  with 
out  Thi's  cooperation.  Though  of  common  ex 
traction,  her  name  and  titles  had  appeared  upon 
all  state  documents  beside  his  own.  This  was  at 
once  a  new  and  a  radical  innovation. 

Amenhotep 's  infatuation  for  the  beautiful  Thi 
had  produced,  among  many  other  marvels,  a  vast 
pleasure  lake,  an  artificial  body  of  water,  which 
now  stretched  its  placid  reaches  on  three  sides 
of  the  villa-palace  of  the  former  monarch.  This 

53 


54         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

villa  was  now  occupied  by  TM  and  the  new 
Pharaoh,  her  son. 

About  the  banks  of  the  broad  lake  waved 
feathery  acacia,  sweet  scented  mimosa,  marsh 
flowers,  and  tall  papyrus  plants.  Upon  its  pel 
lucid  waters  rested  white  and  blue  lotus  flowers. 
Great  cranes,  pink  and  white  flamingos  and 
pure  white  ibises  pecked  leisurely  among  the 
lily  pads  or  spread  their  wings  to  dry  in  the 
rays  of  the  late  afternoon  sun. 

^.  sheltered  landing-stage  opened  on  a  cause 
way  whose  granite  flagging  led  up  to  the  door  of 
the  palace,  the  Per-aoh  or  "Great  House"  as 
both  the  palace  and  its  august  master  were 
called.  To  the  left  of  this  causeway  stood  a 
small  building  set  apart  by  the  art-loving 
Pharaoh  for  experiments  in  glass  and  fayence. 
To  the  right  lay  the  series  of  rooms  reserved 
to  Auta,  the  Eoyal  Sculptor,  and  his  pupils. 
Counted  among  the  latter  were  the  then  reign 
ing  Pharaoh,  Akhten-aton,  and  Noferith,  his 
wife. 

Akhten-aton  has  a  great  admiration  for  his 


The  Pleasure  Barge  of  Thi      55 

valiant  ancestor  Thothmes,  third  of  the  name. 
He  counted  among  his  most  prized  possessions 
a  gold  goblet  said  to  have  been  designed  and 
fashioned  by  the  hand  of  that  gifted  Pharaoh. 

All  Egyptians  knew  how  well  the  hand  of  the 
great  "Conqueror  of  Asia"  had  wielded  the 
curved  sword  of  Amen,  and  with  what  marvel 
ous  results  alike  for  the  enrichment  of  Egypt 
and  for  the  prestige  of  her  name.  Few  had  ever 
guessed  that  Thothmes '  rare  moments  of  relax 
ation  had  been  spent  in  the  studio  of  his  Chief 
Goldsmith. 

To-day,  Akhten-noferu,  the  "pleasure  barge" 
of  the  Queen,  was  drawn  up  beside  the  landing- 
stage  in  anticipation  of  Thi's  arrival. 

Less  than  a  hundred  cubits  in  length,  its  cedar 
beams  were  covered  throughout  with  thin  plates 
of  pure  gold.  Its  linen  sail  was  ornamented 
with  squares  of  blue  and  red.  The  blades  of  the 
light  cedar  oars  were  tipped  with  silver ;  the  two 
great  steering-oars  were  entirely  sheathed  in 
the  same  bright  metal.  A  portrait  head  of  the 
late  Pharaoh  was  carved  upon  the  handle  of 


56         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

each  of  the  steering-oars.  Two  elongated  eyes  at 
the  prow  of  the  barge  were  inlaid  with  alabaster 
and  deep  Babylonian  lazuli.  The  name  of  the 
vessel  appeared  inlaid  in  pale  green  emerald 
from  Suan  in  the  south.  In  the  after  part  of 
the  vessel  a  low  dais  was  covered  with  red  and 
blue  checkered  tapestry,  to  match  the  great  sail. 

With  half-suppressed  giggles  of  excitement 
and  whispered  jests,  the  " sailors"  now  ap 
peared.  Noisily  trooping  down  the  causeway 
they  took  their  places  at  the  oar  benches,  as 
their  leader  indicated.  Their  leader,  Princess 
Sesen,  was  as  amusingly  disguised  as  her 
" sailors,"  the  handmaidens  of  the  Queen- 
Mother  Herself. 

Queen  Thi  now  appeared.  As  her  short  figure 
passed  from  the  dark  shadows  of  the  passage 
into  the  glare  of  day,  two  ebony  black  Nubians 
dropped  in  an  arch  above  her  large  and  pro 
fusely  curled  wig,  a  pair  of  ostrich-feather  sun 
shades  dyed  in  brilliant  tones  of  red  and  blue. 
The  servants  fell  prostrate  at  sight  of  her  and 
so  remained,  muttering  wishes  for  "long  life 


The  Pleasure  Barge  of  Thi      57 

and  health,"  until  she  was  safely  seated  upon 
her  gilded  cedar  chair,  and  a  cushion  placed  at 
her  feet  by  little  Ata,  youngest  of  her  maidens. 

At  her  approach  the  " sailors"  had  been 
silenced  by  a  warning  gesture  from  the  Prin 
cess. 

Suddenly  the  momentary  decorum  of  these 
little  maids  was  interrupted  by  a  wailing  cry 
from  one  of  their  number,  who,  without  ap 
parent  reason,  burst  into  a  violent  fit  of  weep 
ing. 

For  a  few  moments  she  was  unable  to  explain 
the  reason  of  her  distress.  But  finally,  her  sis 
ters  gathered  that  her  turquoise  pendant  had 
slipped  from  her  neck  and  fallen  into  the  water. 
This  pendant,  a  gift  from  the  Princess  herself, 
the  tearful  little  maiden  vowed  she  must  have. 
She  could  not  row,  she  would  not  row,  until  it 
was  found. 

After  much  delay  her  fears  were  somewhat 
allayed  by  the  Chief  Eunuch,  who  promised  to 
send  for  Enana,  the  Magician.  Enana's  in 
cantations  would  soon  bring  to  the  surface  her 


58         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

missing  jewel.  He  promised  that  she  would  find 
it  awaiting  her  when  the  barge  returned  to  the 
landing-stage.  Thus,  in  part  reassured,  little 
Thutu  dried  her  eyes  and  again  bent  over  her 
oar  in  anticipation  of  the  signal  to  start. 

A  trumpeter  in  the  prow  blew  a  shrill  note 
upon  his  long  instrument  (a  new  importation 
from  Syria),  a  group  of  singing  women  from 
the  temple  of  Sekhmet  burst  into  song;  Ea- 
hotep,  the  Chief  Eunuch,  clapped  his  fat  hands ; 
the  ropes  were  cast  off,  and  the  forty  maidens 
dipped  their  light  cedar  oars  in  the  placid 
waters.  The  barge  " Beauties  of  the  Sun  Disc" 
drew  out  slowly  into  the  dancing  waters  of  the 
lake. 

Seated  in  the  shadow  of  the  great  checkered 
sail,  Queen  Thi  smiled  her  appreciation  of  the 
novel  surprise  which  her  maidens  had  prepared 
for  her.  As  the  vessel  drew  out  through  the 
nodding  lotus  flowers  Kema's  flute  made  soft 
music  which  seemed  to  mingle  with  the  pearling 
ripples  of  the  waters.  Kema,  it  seems,  played 
the  flute  so  well  that  the  cranes  and  water-fowl 


The  Pleasure  Barge  of  Thi      59 

often  lit  upon  the  sides  of  the  barge  to  hear  him. 

Queen  Thi  was  not  aware  that  novel  entertain 
ments  such  as  this  had  been  customary  with  the 
Egyptian  court  from  days  immemorial.  She 
was  now  to  hear  of  just  such  a  method  of  dis 
traction  as  had  been  practiced  under  the  great 
Egyptian  monarch  Senefru,  who  had  lived,  died 
and  been  laid  to  rest,  high  up  in  his  colossal 
pyramid,  some  twenty  centuries  before  her  time. 

For  Sianekh,  the  story-teller,  suddenly  ap 
peared  and  seated  herself  upon  the  deck  in  front 
of  the  Queen's  chair.  As  was  her  custom,  she 
neglected  both  the  prostration  and  the  formulae 
of  greeting.  Sianekh  was  a  privileged  char 
acter  at  Court,  a  favorite  with  the  late  King, 
both  on  account  of  her  inexhaustible  fund  of 
stories  and  because  of  the  fact  that  Pepi,  her 
husband,  had  lost  his  life  while  defending  his 
royal  master  from  the  attack  of  a  wounded  lion. 

Yes!  Thi's  obese  and  indolent  husband,  the 
late  Pharaoh,  had  once  been  inordinately  fond 
of  lion-hunting.  One  hundred  and  two  lions  he 
had  killed  with  his  own  arrows.  One  had  gone 


60         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

down  upon  the  very  expedition  so  fatal  to  his 
chariot-driver,  Pepi.  But  it  was  the  last  animal 
of  that  great  hunt  which  had  sent  Sianekh's 
husband  to  the  Valley  of  Shadows.  Pharaoh 
never  forgot  Pepi's  sacrifice.  Pepi's  tomb 
never  lacked  its  offerings  of  beer,  wine  and  milk, 

flesh  and  fowl  or  of  fresh  white  linens  for  the 
rewrapping  of  his  mummy. 

Sianekh,  the  story-teller,  slipped  from  the 
sleeve  of  her  loose  white  mantle  a  small  ebony 
wand  tipped  with  electrum. 

Without  preamble  she  commenced  a  tale  of 
King  Senefru's  days,  a  tale  of  the  epoch  of 
those  gods  of  old,  the  pyramid-builders. 

In  her  monotonous  singsong  she  told  how  the 
good  king,  tired  with  the  cares  of  state  and  op 
pressed  by  the  great  heat  of  noonday,  sought  a 
cool  spot  in  which  to  rest,  and  found  it  not. 
How  his  son  flew  upstream  in  the  fleetest  royal 
barge  in  search  of  a  famous  magician.  How 
he  found  him  fishing  in  the  Nile  without  a  hook, 
and  finally  persuaded  him  to  come  to  his 
father's  court. 


The  Pleasure  Barge  of  Thi      61 

She  told  of  the  wonders  performed  there  by 
the  aged  seer.  Of  wine  turned  to  honey.  Of 
bees  which  went  into  a  little  hive  only  to  emerge 
as  brilliantly  colored  birds  resembling  those  of 
distant  Punt.  Of  the  goose's  head  which  he 
restored  to  its  body  so  that  it  sprang  once  more 
to  its  feet  and  rushed  cackling  and  hissing  from 
their  midst. 

Finally  she  told  of  Senefru's  pleasure-barge, 
of  the  little  maidens  who  rowed  it  and  of  one  of 
their  number  who  dropped  her  pendant  into  the 
water,  even  as  had  Thutu,  and  of  the  magician 
of  old  who  parted  the  waters  and  descended 
dryshod  to  the  finding  of  the  pendant. 

"But  see,  0  Queen.  Enough  of  the  doings  of 
the  ancients.  There  is  the  tablet  to  the  faithful 
Nakht,  a  hero  of  our  own  day  and  generation. ' ' 
Sianekh  pointed  to  a  tall  shaft  which  rose  high 
above  the  bank.  "That  tall  shaft  marks  the 
stake  where  Nakht  met  his  death.  The  story 
goes  that  Isis,  only  daughter  of  the  Vizier 
Raines,  made  an  appointment  to  meet  the  son 
of  Nakht  at  this  spot.  Yonder  inlet  was  filled  to 


62         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

overflowing  with  the*  waters  of  the  inundation. 
But  Nakht,  son  of  Nakht,  rather  than  abandon 
his  tryst,  let  the  swirling  waters  of  the  inunda 
tion  flow  over  his  devoted  head.  Isis  threw  her 
self  into  the  waters  with  him.  To  this  date 
lovers  hang  garlands  about  the  shaft  and 
breathe  a  prayer  to  Hathor  for  sons  and 
daughters  like  Nakht  and  Isis." 

As  Sianekh  rose  to  her  feet  the  Queen  thanked 
her  and  presented  her  with  a  pair  of  gold  ear 
rings  which  she  unfastened  from  her  own  ears, 
an  unheard  of  honor,  and  one  which  even  the 
story-teller  appreciated. 

The  Eunuchs  showed  their  approbation  by 
loud  cries  of  affected  astonishment,  for  the 
stories  were  not  new  to  them.  But  the  little 
maidens,  who  had  rested  on  their  oars  during 
the  recital,  showed  their  keen  delight  in  the  tales 
by  frequent  "oh's"  and  "ahV'  of  astonish 
ment  and  approval  scattered  throughout  the 
telling. 

On  the  barge  the  hours  slipped  by  unnoted. 
To  Yakab  the  Chancellor,  who  now  anxiously 


The  Pleasure  Barge  of  Thi      63 

awaited  the  return  of  the  Queen,  each  minute 
seemed  an  hour. 

Yakab  had  hurried  off  to  acquaint  the  Queen 
of  Bhanar's  plight,  and  to  beg  her  to  come  to 
the  assistance  of  one  of  her  unfortunate  coun 
try-women. 

Hour  after  hour  Yakab  was  compelled  to  sit 
beneath  the  striped  awning  which  fronted  the 
palace  door.  tEour  after  hour  he  pretended  to 
listen  to  the  doorkeeper 's  account  of  his  exploits 
amidst  the  Nubian  goldfields,  in  the  arid  Tur 
quoise  Country,  among  the  hills  of  Mitanni  or 
beyond  the  Great  Bend  of  the  Euphrates. 

Pentaur,  the  Doorkeeper,  had  served  three 
successive  Pharaohs.  Already  was  he  popularly 
supposed  to  have  exceeded  the  one  hundred  and 
ten  years  customarily  prayed  for  by  all  pious 
Egyptians.  Yet,  Pentaur  seemed  to  have  the 
key  to  some  mysterious  Tie&aw-charm,  which 
kept  his  well-worn  teeth  in  his  head,  his  deep-set 
eyes  clear  and  his  head  erect.  Though  Pentaur 
walked  with  a  jackal-headed  cane,  it  was  from 
choice,  and  not  necessity. 


64         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

Like  all  men,  Pentaur  had  his  failings.  Next 
to  the  somewhat  colored  recital  of  his  own 
travels  and  successes,  Pentaur  loved  to  recount 
the  exploits,  narrow  escapes  and  journeyings  of 
his  famous  ancestor  and  namesake,  Pentaur, 
companion  and  histographer  of  that  greatest  of 
all  Pharaohs,  Thothmes  the  Great.  As  he  lis 
tened,  perforce,  to  this  garrulous  descendant  of 
Pentaur,  Yakab  wondered  if  it  had  indeed  been 
the  fiery  Thothmes  who  had  crushed  Nubia  and 
the  whole  of  Asia,  or  whether  the  first  Pentaur 
had  not  in  point  of  fact  been  the  true  instru 
ment  of  Pharaoh's  worldwide  successes. 

Yet,  much  of  what  the  Doorkeeper  said  of  his 
ancestor  was  true.  Was  not  Pentaur  the  His 
torian's  account  of  Pharaoh's  exploits  written 
in  good  hieroglyphic  and  graphically  pictured 
upon  the  walls  of  Amen's  temple  nearby?  In 
deed,  Pentaur,  the  Doorkeeper,  had  good  cause 
for  his  pride  of  ancestry. 

The  weary  Yakab  was  on  the  point  of  re 
linquishing  his  long  vigil  when  the  notes  of  a 
trumpet  announced  the  return  of  the  royal 
barge.  Soon  after  Pentaur  sent  in  Yakab 's 


The  Pleasure  Barge  of  Thi      65 

crumpled  note  to  the  Queen-Mother's  apart 
ment. 

Once  the  acknowledgment  was  in  his  hands, 
Yakab  picked  up  his  long  staff  and  rose  to  de 
part.  As  his  gaunt  form  passed  beneath  the 
outer  pylon,  Pentaur  motioned  him  back  to  the 
ebony  stool.  Pentaur  considered  Yakab  an  ex 
cellent  conversationalist,  for  the  reason,  per 
haps,  that  Pentaur 's  flow  of  anecdote  had  not 
once  been  interrupted. 

But  Yakab  smilingly  shook  his  head.  He 
could  not  resist  following  up  his  heart-felt  ex 
pressions  of  farewell  with  a  sarcastic  prayer 
for  the  repose  of  the  souls  of  Pentaur 's  ances 
try,  as  far  as  he  could  recall  it,  commencing  with 
Den,  one  of  the  valiant  "Followers  of  Horus" 
of  the  days  of  the  gods. 

Yakab  feared  that  he  had  failed  a  member 
of  his  race.  He  had  been  too  late.  Yakab  loved 
riches ;  Yakab  loved  power.  But,  above  all  else, 
Yakab  loved  his  home,  his  family,  his  people. 
And  was  not  Bhanar  one  of  his  people? 

That  night  Yakab  could  not  sleep. 


CHAPTER  VI 

How  BHANAR  FOUND  A  HOME  IN  EGYPT 

BALTU  the  Phoenician  left  his  bales  of 
merchandise  and  returned  to  the  side  of 
the  trembling  Bhanar.    Erdu,  his  steers 
man  could  count  the  bales  as  well  as  he.    As 
each  tenth  bale  passed  over  the  vessel's  side, 
Erdu  sang  out  the  tally.    He  checked  it  with  a 
mark  upon  a  piece  of  potsherd  which  he  held  in 
his  hand. 

Misunderstanding  the  signs  of  excitement 
which  appeared  in  the  face  of  the  trembling 
Bhanar,  following  Benny's  signal,  the  Phoeni 
cian  merchant  sought  to  interest  her  in  the 
sights  about  her.  In  a  few  moments  she  would 
be  off  his  hands  forever.  She  must  not  be  al 
lowed  to  break  down  at  this  juncture. 

In  a  voice  which  he  sought  to  make  sym 
pathetic  Baltu  pointed  out  the  wonders  of  the 
Western  Bank. 

66 


Bhanar  Found  a  Home  in  Egypt  67 

He  named  the  builders  of  the  various  temples, 
shrines  and  gold-capped  obelisks ;  the  owners  of 
the  more  important  villas  whose  gardens  lined 
the  river  bank.  He  even  attempted  to  give  some 
chronological  sequence  to  the  intricate  maze  of 
rockhewn  tombs  which  rose,  vast  and  imposing, 
from  the  edge  of  the  Theban  Plain  to  a  point 
high  up  beneath  the  crumbling  cliffs  of  the 
western  hills. 

Yet,  Bhanar  found  little  of  interest  in  her 
surroundings.  Her  eyes  dwelt  fearfully  upon 
the  treeless  hills,  upon  the  mud-walled  villages 
and  gloomy  temples.  She  noted  that  each  and 
all  of  the  Theban  temples  were  guarded  from 
the  eyes  of  mortals  by  high  and  forbidding  walls 
of  solid  masonry. 

How  different  was  this  to  the  hospitality  of 
her  own  little  temple,  whose  snowy  colonnades 
were  open  to  every  passerby;  its  great  wooden 
doors  thrown  open  from  sunrise  to  sunset! 
Again,  in  contradistinction  to  these  sun-baked 
hills  her  native  village  nestled  in  an  olive  grove, 
its  encircling  hills  were  green  with  pastures  and 


68         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

crowned  with  thickly  growing  trees.  At  this 
very  season  its  fields  were  yellow  with  the  fra 
grant  Syrian  crocus.  Over  all  was  a  sky  blue  as 
a  turquoise,  an  atmosphere  pure  and  limpid. 
How  different  from  the  blazing  heat  of  Egypt 
and  that  great  throbbing  cauldron  of  molten 
brass  which  the  Egyptians  called  their  sky ! 

Presently  she  would  be  swallowed  up  in  one 
of  those  forbidding  temples,  palaces  or  villas! 
She  thought  that  the  well  of  her  tears  had  dried, 
yet  now  the  tears  sprang  hot  and  blinding  to  her 
eyes. 

Fearing  that  she  might  ruin  his  chances  if  she 
lost  that  soft  rose  coloring  he  so  prized,  to 
divert  her  Baltu  led  her  to  the  cabin  door  and 
bade  her  robe  herself  to  go  ashore.  Baltu  took 
from  his  long  fringed  gown  two  small  gold- 
capped  jars  of  obsidian  and  placed  them  in  her 
hands:  "Descend  to  thy  cabin,  my  Eose-bud. 
Bid  Darman  let  down  that  glossy  hair  of  thine. 
Let  her  sprinkle  a  little  of  this  perfumed  oil  and 
gold  dust  upon  it.  The  oil  is  more  precious 
than  the  gold.  Let  her  not  waste  a  drop.  Now 


Bhanar  Found  a  Home  in  Egypt  69 

haste  thee,  my  Syrian  Crocus!  We  go  ashore 
immediately. ' ' 

Soon  Bhanar  was  arrayed  in  a  cream-colored 
robe,  a  golden  girdle  encircled  her  slender  waist, 
a  diadem  gleamed  in  her  perfumed  hair. 

Darman  stood  back  to  admire  the  effect  of  her 
ministrations.  Darman,  like  Bhanar,  snatched 
from  some  distant  village,  was  short,  fat  and 
continually  sniffling  or  weeping  outright.  She 
had  often  assured  Bhanar,  as  indeed  she  had 
assured  other  unfortunates  whom  it  had  been 
her  lot  to  serve  in  a  like  capacity,  that  the  love 
and  devotion  which  she  bore  her,  alone  pre 
vented  her  from  throwing  herself  overboard. 

In  the  present  case  it  may  well  have  been  the 
truth,  for  Darman  had  conceived  an  utter  in 
fatuation  for  the  beautiful  Syrian.  On  the  con 
trary,  Darman  loathed  her  loud-voiced  master, 
though  her  abject  fear  of  him  was  cause  for  jest 
with  the  whole  crew,  including  Baltu  himself. 

In  spite  of  her  threats  to  do  away  with  her 
self  Darman  had  now  spent  six  years  upon  the 
Tynan's  vessel.  During  this  time  she  had  pre- 


yo         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

pared  hundreds  of  timorous  maidens  for  their 
first,  and  last,  appearance  upon  the  slave- 
traders*  dais.  When  the  owner  grew  tired  of 
his  new  plaything,  like  the  playthings  of  in 
fancy,  it  disappeared.  No  one  knew  whither, 
no  one  cared. 

Bhanar  reappeared  on  deck  to  find  Baltu  in 
the  act  of  teasing  the  unfortunate  youth,  who 
now  lay  prostrate  at  his  feet  in  an  agony  of  fear 
and  apprehension. 

"Up!  Dry  those  woman's  tears,  Page  of 
Pharaoh !  Dost  wish  a  tombkeeper  to  purchase 
thee?  Queen  Ataho's  page  servitor  to  a 
mummy!  Pull  thyself  together,  boy!  Other 
wise" — Baltu  closed  his  eyes,  folded  his  hands 
across  his  chest  and  assumed  the  rigid  pose  of 
a  mummy. 

As  his  eyes  opened  he  caught  sight  of  the  ad 
vancing  Bhanar:  ' 'Astar's  doves!  Did  I  not 
tell  thee  Darman,  'A  robe  of  cream,  trans 
parent,  bordered  with  green  and  gold,  dainty 
sandals  of  pink  and  gold,  a  simple  gold  diadem 
and  the  hair  parted  in  the  center — so!'  Seen 


Bhanar  Found  a  Home  in  Egypt  71 

through  such  Syrian  byssus  that  rosy  form  pro 
claims  thee  Astar's  daughter.  Ah,  Nebamon, 
what  a  treat  for  thine  eyes!" 

Hardly  waiting  for  the  unfortunate  Hittite 
youth  to  gather  himself  together,  Baltu,  trem 
bling  with  excitement  and  cupidity,  led  his  two 
victims  to  the  long  cedar  gangplank.  Once  on 
shore  he  pushed  aside  the  sweating  carriers,  and 
pulling  along  his  two  charges  with  him,  started 
off  down  the  street. 

Presently  they  passed  the  common  slaver's 
block.  Two  brilliantly  painted  booths  were  at 
the  moment  in  use.  Upon  one  stood  a  stolid 
Nubian  woman  and  two  weeping  children ;  upon 
the  other  a  troop  of  half-starved  Amu,  whom 
the  priests  of  Karnak,  their  original  owners, 
were  now  selling. 

Baku's  great  fist  thundered  at  the  door  of 
the  last  house  southward  along  the  waterfront. 
He  slid  back  the  bolt  and  threw  open  the  door, 
waving  his  two  charges  into  a  narrow  corridor. 
In  a  stentorian  voice  he  shouted  a  command  or 
greeting  to  the  unseen  inhabitants  of  the  dwell- 


72         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

ing  and  stalked  off  down  the  corridor,  and  then 
up  a  short  flight  of  stairs  to  a  room  in  the 
harem  or  second  story. 

This  room  turned  a  blank  wall  to  the  river 
front — as  indeed  did  all  three  stories  of  the 
house — but  it  overlooked  a  broad  and  well-kept 
garden.  Its  painted  cedar  door  gave  upon  an 
awning-covered  balcony  which  immediately 
overlooked  the  customary  lotus-pool.  A  giant 
sycamore  spread  its  shady  branches  far  and 
wide  above  the  flower-dotted  water. 

In  the  shade  of  this  aged  tree  Baltu's  Egyp 
tian  wife,  an  enormously  fat  but  strikingly 
handsome  Theban,  was  taking  a  short  walk  sup 
ported  on  the  arms  of  two  Nubian  women.  Her 
pet  gosling  rested  upon  her  capacious  bosom. 

At  the  sudden  appearance  of  their  lord  and 
master  the  latter  dropped  Bentamen's  arms 
and  commenced  dancing,  clapping  their  hands, 
and  sending  out  upon  the  quiet  morning  air  the 
shrill  " welcome  cry"  of  their  race,  in  which  the 
beaming  Bentarnen,  Baltu's  spouse,  attempted 
to  join.  Tears  of  joy  the  while  dropped  in  a 
shower  upon  the  head  of  her  devoted  pet. 


Bhanar  Found  a  Home  in  Egypt  73 

However,  Baltu  had  no  time  for  greetings. 
In  response  to  his  directions  Bentamen,  sup 
ported  by  her  maids,  waddled  slowly  toward  a 
little  kiosk  in  the  rear  of  the  garden,  a  summer 
house  almost  buried  in  a  circle  of  ragged  date 
and  dom  palm.  Though  in  his  rough  way,  Baltu 
devotedly  loved  his  fat  wife,  business  always 
consigned  her  to  second  place  in  her  lord's 
heart. 

During  this  little  scene  Bhanar  had  had  time 
to  gaze  about  her.  The  room  in  which  they 
stood  was  decorated  with  painted  designs  of 
hunting  scenes,  boomerang-hunting  amidst  the 
marshes,  a  common  pastime  with  the  wealthier 
Egyptians.  The  ceiling  decoration  consisted  of 
a  painted  band  of  spiral  grape  vines,  whose 
dainty  tendrils  met  and  intertwined  immedi 
ately  above  her  head. 

In  one  corner  the  artist  had  introduced  a  cat 
crouching  to  spring  upon  an  unsuspecting  field 
mouse.  The  latter  was  busily  engaged  in  eating 
its  way  into  a  fat  bunch  of  luscious  purple 
grapes. 

Puns  being  the  Egyptian's  stock  in  trade,  his 


74         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

common  form  of  wit,  the  artist  had  scrawled  in 
minute  hieroglyphics  below:  "Oh,  guest,  who 
soever  thou  art,  what  do  you  think  of  this  for  a 
vignette?" 

Bhanar,  it  is  true,  could  not  read  the  inscrip 
tion,  but  she  could  appreciate  the  charm  of  the 
little  apartment,  its  brilliant  frescoes  and  its 
floors  powdered  with  finest  white  sand,  gold 
dust,  lapis  lazuli  and  turquoise. 

A  scent  as  of  some  sweet  pungent  incense 
floated  in  the  air.  Scented  woods  from  the  In 
cense  Country  had  been  stocked  in  the  center  of 
the  little  brazier  which  glowed  fitfully  at  the 
edge  of  a  low  dais  hung  with  richly  embroidered 
linen. 

This  dais  stood  well  back  against  the  eastern 
wall  of  the  room.  Upon  it  stood  a  light  wicker- 
work  couch,  its  head  and  back  of  ebony,  its  four 
high  feet  of  ivory  carved  to  represent  panther's 
claws. 

Clapping  his  hands,  Baltu  gave  certain  sharp 
directions  to  an  obsequious  Nubian,  who  ap 
peared  as  if  by  magic  at  his  summons.  There- 


Bhanar  Found  a  Home  in  Egypt  75 

after  Baltu  smiled,  stroked  his  long  beard  and, 
taking  a  small  bottle  of  wine  from  a  niche  in 
the  wall,  shook  a  few  drops  into  the  brazier. 
He  muttered  a  prayer  to  Bar,  Baal  and  Isis  as 
he  poured  out  the  wine.  Could  his  two  hearers 
have  understood  his  words,  they  would  have 
heard  the  old  slaver  bribe  his  gods,  foreign  and 
Egyptian  alike,  with  promises  of  rich  libations, 
of  oxen  and  geese,  should  his  bait  be  taken  at 
the  figure  he  had  fixed. 

Baltu  in  this,  did  but  follow  the  lead  of 
Pharaoh  himself,  though  Pharaoh,  god  incar 
nate,  had  he  but  paused  to  consider  it,  did  but 
seek  to  bribe  himself,  in  the  person  of  his  celes 
tial  counterpart. 

Word  soon  spread  through  the  mart  that 
Baltu  the  Phoenician  was  selling,  and  Baltu 
was  known  as  a  merchant  who  sold  nothing  but 
the  best  and  rarest,  whether  that  best  consisted 
of  spices,  perfumes,  wines,  jewels,  Babylonian 
glass  or  slaves. 

Baltu  the  Phoenician  lifted  a  jeweled  hand: 
"Listen,  Thebans!  Four  months  have  passed 


76         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

since  I  have  gazed  upon  the  Queen  of  Cities, 
Thebes  the  Glorious !  During  these  four  months 
I  have  visited  Meggido,  Charchemish,  Tyre  and 
Askelon.  My  last  voyage  hither  brought  ye  true 
lazuli  of  Babylon,  and  precious  incense  from 
the  Incense  Land,  the  waterless  land  of  the 
East! 

"This  time  we  bring  ye  amethysts  and  tur 
quoise  for  your  beads  and  bangles,  malachite 
for  the  healing  of  your  eyes,  incense  for  your 
nostrils,  precious  oils  for  your  anointing,  or  to 
mix  with  those  ceremonial  cones  that  custom 
bids  ye  place  upon  your  graceful  wigs,  also" — 
suddenly  his  eyes  catch  the  sight  of  the  one  man 
above  all  others  he  wished  to  see.  He  broke  off 
and  addressed  the  newcomer  directly.  "For 
thee,  my  lord  Nebamon,  a  rose;  nay,  a  human 
rose,  softly  pink  as  a  rose  of  Naharin !  Step  up, 
great  lord,  see  for  thyself!"  With  a  quick 
movement  Baltu  unloosed  the  gold  girdle  that 
supported  the  heavy  robe  so  gracefully  draped 
about  the  shrinking  Bhanar. 

"A  rose  indeed,  Nebamon?    Do  my  lord's 


Bhanar  Found  a  Home  in  Egypt  77 

lists  boast  a  form  more  perfect,  a  skin  more 
lustrous,  hair  so  long,  so  like  the  ruddy  gold  of 
Nubia?  Should  not  this  damsel,  this  daughter 
of  a  long  line  of  kings,  be  added  to  the  royal 
lists?  Were  the  great  noble  Menna,  son  of 
Menna,  here  now,  would  he  not  straightway  buy 
the  maiden?  Never  shall  I  be  content  until  I 
see  thee  take  from  thy  finger  the  seal  that  adds 
this  wondrous  creature  to  thy  villa  yonder. " 

Nebamon,  typical  eunuch  and  slave-dealer, 
handsome  of  face,  obese  to  such  an  extent  that 
the  skin  of  his  torso  lay  over  his  jeweled  girdle 
in  thick  folds,  Nebamon  nodded  his  head  as  his 
great  velvet  eyes  slowly  appraised  the  many 
charms  of  the  crouching  maiden. 

"Thy  price,  Baltu?  And  mark  thee  well! 
Should  she  turn  out  the  shrew  that  fair-skinned 
Hittite  Gadiya  proved  to  be,  she  shall  be  re 
turned,  or  never  again  will  Baltu 's  galley  pass 
the  northern  frontier  into  Egypt!  May  the 
Hound  eat  her,  she  is  still  upon  my  hands,  and 
like  to  be!" 

' '  Great  lord !    Could  I  know  the  Hittite  for  a 


78         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

shrew.  Remember,  more  than  three  months  I 
had  her  on  my  book.  With  me,  as  with  Barman, 
she  was  a  very  dove,  as  soft  and  cooing  as  the 
sacred  doves  of  Hathor's  temple  yonder!  Nay, 
have  done  with  Gadiya;  we  will  speak  of  her 
anon.  Thou  wouldst  know  the  price  of  Bhanar 
the  Beautiful,  of  Bhanar — a  daughter  of  Kings? 
There  are  perhaps  four  whose  names  allow 
the  purchase  of  the  maid,  and  these  be  Pharaoh 
himself,  Eames,  your  good  Vizier,  Menna,  the 
King's  Overseer,  and,  perhaps,  thyself!  One 
thousand  gold  uten  and  five  hundred  bags  of 
northern  wheat  will  buy  the  maid,  Nebamon! 
Make  up  thy  mind,  and  quickly.  Yonder  I  see 
approaching  the  carrying  chair  of  thy  most 
dreaded  rival,  Menna,  son  of  Menna.  What  says 
my  lord  Nebamon?" 

"Five  hundred  uten,  Baltu ;  all  I  have  is  thine 
for  the  maid!"  The  handsome  noble  shot  a 
hasty  glance  in  the  direction  of  the  oncoming 
chair  of  Menna,  the  King's  Overseer.  It  was 
plainly  visible  to  all  present,  as  it  swung  up  the 


Bhanar  Found  a  Home  in  Egypt  79 

garden  path,  two  outrunners  with  slaves  going 
before,  a  foreign  conceit  which  Menna  had  im 
ported  from  .Naharin. 

Nebamon  drew  from  his  jeweled  girdle  his 
writing  set.  He  affected  to  write  out  a  mem 
orandum. 

"One  thousand  uten  and  five  hundred  bags  of 
wheat  will  buy  the  maid,  Nebamon,  nothing 
less.'* 

Arriving  just  in  time  to  hear  the  repetition  of 
the  price  Menna  descended  from  his  chair, 
crossed  the  room  and  stood  before  the  shrinking 
Bhanar.  Menna  never  haggled.  He  bought 
outright  or  he  signaled  his  bearers  and  was 
borne  away  without  a  word. 

On  this  occasion  Menna  took  a  hasty  look  at 
Bhanar,  turned  to  Baltu  and  cried:  "Done,  the 
girl  is  mine!" 

With  a  scowl  upon  his  handsome  face  Neba 
mon  haughtily  withdrew,  followed  by  a  half 
score  of  excited  Theban  nobles  and  the  usual 
group  of  hangers  on,  those  "flies  on  meat"  who 


8o         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

customarily  attached  themselves  to  the  more 
reckless  nobles  of  the  resident  city. 

Within  the  hour  the  delighted  Bhanar  found 
herself  attached  as  maid  to  the  person  of  the 
Princess  Sesen,  attendant  of  Noferith,  the 
young  Queen.  All  her  fears  in  this  direction 
were  instantly  dispelled  when  the  Princess  ad 
vised  her  of  her  simple  duties  in  Syrian  as  pure 
as  her  own.  From  that  hour  Bhanar  adored  the 
very  ground  her  beautiful  mistress  walked  on. 
From  that  day  Bhanar  became  the  very  shadow 
of  the  little  Princess. 

The  secret  of  Bhanar 's  present  good  fortune 
was  due  to  the  fact  that  Menna,  son  of  Menna, 
loved  the  Princess  Sesen.  Menna  felt  that  such 
a  gift  as  that  of  the  beautiful  slave-girl  would 
go  far  to  impress  the  haughty  little  maiden  with 
the  sincerity  of  his  suit.  Possibly  this  lavish 
expenditure  would  touch  her  hard  little  heart. 

The  price  was  indeed  a  high  one,  even  for  a 
Royal  Overseer.  But  it  was  the  first  time  in  all 
Menna 's  thirty-odd  years  that  a  woman  had  not 
smiled  upon  his  suit. 


Bhanar  Found  a  Home  in  Egypt  81 

Stranger  still,  perhaps,  for  the  first  time, 
Menna  truly  loved  a  woman.  True,  Henna's 
love  by  now  was  closely  akin  to  madness,  since 
the  little  maid  continually  frowned  upon  his  suit. 
The  youthful  general,  Ramses,  he  knew,  was 
ever  in  her  thoughts. 

Yet,  Menna  never  despaired.  In  earlier  years 
he  had  often  been  on  the  point  of  relinquishing 
some  tirelessly  pursued  quarry,  of  a  similarly 
serenely  unruffled  type,  when  lo,  the  pome 
granate  had  suddenly  fallen  into  his  hands. 

But  what  of  Benny,  Bhanar 's  would-be  res 
cuer?  Returning  overjoyed  from  his  visit  to 
Yakab,  the  Chancellor,  Renny  had  reached  the 
acacia  grove  fronting  Thethi's  Tavern  when 
something  suddenly  descended  upon  his  head 
and  the  last  thing  he  remembered  was  a  stun 
ning  blow  and  then — oblivion. 

Could  Renny  the  Syrian  but  have  had  some 
slight  premonition  of  what  next  would  happen 
to  his  poor  unconscious  body,  he  would  certainly 
have  rubbed  that  small  green  crocodile  pendant 
at  his  neck,  the  gift  of  an  Egyptian  friend,  and 


82         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

uttered  the  formula  which  drives  that  voracious 
creature  from  its  prey. 

But  Benny  was  a  Syrian.  He  wore  that  little 
green  charm  merely  to  please  his  friend.  Eenny 
put  no  trust  in  feathers  of  ibis  or  blood  of 
lizard ;  he  smiled  at  charms  and  magic  incanta 
tions.  Eenny 's  own  simple  religion  was  a  re 
ligion  of  love,  not  of  fear. 

Yet,  who  knows,  perhaps  the  little  charm  was 
to  assist  him,  and  this  in  spite  of  himself. 


CHAPTER  VII 
How  BENNY  THE  SYEIAN  ESCAPED  THE  CEOCODILES 

WE  have  already  alluded  to  the  violent 
sandstorm  which  had  raged  over  Thebes. 
As  Kham-hat  had  truthfully  said,  such  a 
storm  had  not  been  known  since  that  memorable 
day  when  Thi  the  Beautiful,  had  been  brought 
up-river  to  Egypt 's  capital,  there  to  become  the 
favorite  wife  of  the  late  Pharaoh. 

The  storm  had  been  especially  severe  in  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  the  capital,  or  so  at  least, 
it  had  seemed  to  the  disgusted  Thebans.  Their 
loud  complaints  as  to  the  hideous  damage  done 
were  not  unduly  emphasized,  since  the  baleful 
effects  of  this  storm,  both  in  and  about  the  resi 
dent  city,  were  apparent  on  every  hand. 

Many  of  the  famous  palms  and  giant  syca 
mores  in  Pharaoh 's  palace  garden  had  been  up 
rooted  or  despoiled  of  their  finest  branches. 
Many  of  the  Abyssinian  trees  and  Lebanus 

83 


84         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

cedars,  that  lined  the  causeway  leading  to  Hat- 
shepsut's  ivory-toned  chapel,  now  lay  prone 
across  its  well-paved  incline,  or,  loosened  at  the 
roots,  hung  shriveled,  torn  and  dejected,  far  out 
across  its  brightly  painted  parapets. 

Dust,  a  foot  or  more  in  depth,  had  drifted 
against  the  gates  of  the  villas,  many  of  which 
seemed  as  if  they  might  rather  have  opened 
upon  some  gloomy  mortuary-garden  than  upon 
the  dainty  gardens  of  exalted  nobles,  with  their 
wealth  of  tamarisks,  acacias,  myrrh,  sandal- 
wood  and  stately  Lebanus  cedars. 

Not  a  sign  of  life  was  visible  along  the  sloping 
walls  of  the  city,  not  a  living  thing  stirred  in  its 
dark  and  narrow  streets.  Covered  by  the  same 
gray  pall  of  dust,  Thebes  had  seemingly  united 
herself  with  her  immense  burial-ground  to  the 
westward.  Thebes  appeared  to  have  become 
one  vast  city  of  the  dead ! 

A  swirl  of  the  fine  impalpable  Egyptian  dust 
rose  into  the  shimmering  air,  a  whirling  and 
ever-widening  cone — part  sand,  part  river-silt, 
part  "human  ashes.  Yes,  throughout  the  Nile 


Renny  Escaped  the  Crocodiles   85 

Valley,  an  Egyptian  might  be  said  to  breathe 
the  very  ashes  of  his  ancestors. 

Suddenly  the  sun  leaped  above  the  Eastern 
Hills.  The  city  awoke.  Smoke  rose  upon  the 
heavy  morning  air  and  drifted  slowly,  like  a 
blue-gray  streamer,  up  the  curving  shores  of 
the  Theban  Valley. 

Kathi,  the  embalmer,  on  his  way  to  the  land 
ing  stage  leading  to  the  Temple  of  Karnak, 
paused  to  watch  the  maneuvers  of  the  war- 
vessels,  as  they  sought  their  berths  along  the 
western  bank. 

At  this  moment,  one  vessel's  huge  square  sail, 
a  picturesque  checker-board  of  green  and  white, 
flapped  madly,  as  its  head  flew  up  suddenly  in 
the  wind.  It  seemed  that  Duadmochef,  the 
Wind-god,  was  not  to  be  cheated  out  of  a  few 
parting  puffs  from  his  lusty  lungs ! 

The  look-out-man,  standing  in  the  prow,  pole 
in  hand,  shouted  a  hasty  warning  to  the  captain 
aft,  but,  before  his  raucous  order  could  be 
understood,  the  heavy  boat  had  buried  its  nose, 
with  the  ghastly  trophies  it  bore,  deep  in  a  hid- 


86         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

den  sand-bar.  For  a  time  it  seemed  that  the 
stiffly  swaying  forms  of  the  wretched  foreign 
chieftains  lashed  to  the  prow  would  break  the 
thongs  which  held  them  in  place.  It  availed 
nothing  that  Ranuf,  the  captain,  cursed  the  look 
out-man,  his  father  and  his  forebears  since 
Egypt  emerged  from  the  primordial  Nul  And 
the  unhappy  Ameni  suffered  the  irate  captain's 
curses  in  silence,  as  it  was  the  sixth  mishap  of 
the  kind  since  leaving  the  sandstone  quays  of 
Enet,  sacred  to  the  Goddess  Hathor. 

As  Eanuf  hurled  at  the  bent  head  of  his  look 
out-man  a  last  fearful  hekau,  a  potent  spell 
intended  to  consign  the  soul  of  his  discomfited 
assistant  to  the  voracious  maw  of  Osiris 's 
hound,  he  noticed  a  dark  patch  floating  upon 
the  water  below.  A  white  face  gazed  up  into 
his: 

"Abdi,  quick!  A  drowning  man;  a  country 
man  of  thine;  if  I  mistake  not." 

The  Syrian  addressed  strode  quickly  to  the 
captain's  side,  took  one  look  at  the  slowly  drift 
ing  body  and,  casting  aside  his  sandals  and 
loin-cloth,  disappeared  headlong  into  the  river. 


Renny  Escaped  the  Crocodiles    87 

Cautiously  the  captain  extended  a  long  pole  in 
the  direction  of  the  swimming  sailor.  In  an 
other  moment,  Abdi  was  drawn  safely  to  the 
deck,  and,  with  him,  the  apparently  lifeless 
figure  of  the  man  he  had  attempted  to  save. 

Abdi  rose  to  his  feet,  seemingly  none  the 
worse  for  his  adventure.  He  clasped  the  cap 
tain's  hand:  "Adon!  I  thought  a  devil  had  me 
by  the  heels !  Truly  the  eddies  hereabouts  have 
a  deadly  grip!  Dost  know  the  lad?  A  fellow 
countryman  by  those  blue  eyes  of  his !  See,  they 
open!  Breath  of  Adon,  'tis  an  ugly  crack  he 
hath!  Cut  the  thongs  that  bind  him!  Verily, 
'tis  dangerous  work  to  meddle  with  Syrians,  as 
they  who  planned  this  treacherous  attack  will 
find,  should  Thi  get  wind  of  it !  Thou  knowest  in 
such  a  case,  even  the  'tried,  judged,  found  his 
bitter  doom ! '  is  omitted  from  the  records,  since 
1  thus  we  save  the  government's  ink/  says  that 
wagThethi!" 

The  captain  bent  over  the  still  motionless 
form  of  the  unknown.  He  tried  to  recall  the 
face  but  failed. 

At  this  moment  the  Syrian  presented  a  most 


Hanit:  the  Enchantress 


woeful  appearance.  The  long,  slim  form  lay 
inert;  the  eyes  from  time  to  time  opened  and 
closed  wearily.  Blood  still  trickled  slowly  from 
a  slight  cut  along  one  side  of  his  forehead. 

By  now  he  was  surrounded  by  half  a  score  of 
curious,  yet  sympathetic  sailors.  One  bound  up 
his  wound,  another  provided  him  with  a  striped 
head-cloth,  another  placed  a  dry  robe  about  his 
shoulders. 

As  he  once  more  fluttered  back  to  conscious 
ness,  a  sailor  addressed  him  in  the  Egyptian 
tongue : 

" Stranger,  how  comest  thou  in  such  a  strait? 
Verily  had  it  not  been  for  that  patch  of  reeds, 
the  crocodiles  that  swarm  about  the  temple  quay 
had  sighted  thy  bobbing  form,  or  the  gripping 
whirlpools  around  the  Southern  Bend  had 
drawn  thee  to  the  river's  slimiest  depths? 
Breath  of  Sebek !  Thy  pendant  did  indeed  pro 
tect  thee!" 

The  question  was  understood,  as  was  evident 
from  the  color  that  rushed  to  the  pale  face,  and 
the  intelligence  that  lit  up  the  bright  blue  eyes. 


Renny  Escaped  the  Crocodiles   89 

No  doubt  the  question  recalled  to  the  Syrian's 
brain  the  memory  of  the  attack  which  had  so 
nearly  cost  him  his  life.  He  struggled  to  his 
feet.  A  draught  of  wine,  and,  in  a  few  moments, 
he  seemed  little  the  worse  for  his  experience. 

"  Friends,  'tis  a  tale  of  jealousy.  I  am  named 
Benny,  a  Syrian,  a  sculptor  attached  to  the 
house  of  the  Lord  Menna,  son  of  Menna,  Over 
seer  of  Pharaoh  (health  to  him).  I  know  not 
who  hath  planned  this  murderous  attack  upon 
me.  No  enemies  have  I  to  my  knowledge." 

He  turned  to  Abdi:  "  Fellow  countryman,  I 
thank  thee  that  thou  dids  't  so  opportunely  go  to 
my  rescue.  May  this  bar  requite  thee !"  Renny 
slipped  from  his  arm  a  broad  band  of  gold  and 
handed  it  to  Abdi. 

Whether  the  excitement  of  the  rescue  and 
rush  of  all  hands  to  the  side  had  had  anything 
to  do  with  it  or  not  no  one  could  say,  but  at  this 
moment  the  clumsy  barge  suddenly  yielded 
itself  to  the  renewed  efforts  of  the  chanting 
polers,  and  swung  around  into  mid-stream. 

As  it  drew  alongside  the  western  landing- 


9O         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

stage,  Renny  leaped  ashore.  With  a  wave  of  the 
hand  to  his  rescuers,  he  abruptly  disappeared 
among  the  bales  of  hides  and  serried  ranks  of 
great  empty  water  jars,  which  were  piled  up 
high  along  the  shore,  awaiting  shipment  to  the 
north. 

Renny  had  seen  a  company  of  Royal  Guards 
men  drawn  up  before  the  colonnaded  portico  of 
the  royal  landing-stage. 

He  had  nothing  to  fear  from  the  soldiers. 
These,  he  well  knew,  waited  to  escort  the  vic 
torious  General  Ramses  into  Pharaoh's  pres 
ence. 

Yet,  at  their  head,  idly  swinging  a  jeweled 
scarab  which  hung  upon  a  long  gold  chain,  stood 
Bar,  a  spy  in  the  service  of  Menna,  the  King's 
Overseer,  Renny 's  powerful  patron. 

Renny  had  his  reasons  for  seeking  to  avoid 
the  Prince 's  servant  at  this  juncture.  He  could 
not  shake  off  the  feeling  that  Bar,  the  spy,  was 
concerned,  in  some  way,  with  the  attack  that 
had  so  nearly  cost  him  his  life. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

NOFERT-ARI  DANCES  BEFORE  PHARAOH 

IN  chariots  or  carrying-chairs  members  of  the 
Court  were  hurrying  to  the  Palace,  to  assist 
at  the  feast  planned  to  honor,  at  one  and 
the  same  time,  Belur,  the  newly  arrived  Hittite 
Ambassador,  and  the  victorious  Egyptian  gen 
eral,  Eamses,  but  now  returned  from  Nubia. 

According  to  precedent  Ramses  would  pre 
sent  himself  before  Pharaoh  and  the  Court 
in  order  to  receive  the  customary  favors  be 
stowed  upon  a  victorious  Egyptian  leader,  those 
"favors  which  the  King  bestows "  and  "the 
gold  order  of  valor. ' ' 

Throughout  the  long  day  the  excitable  Theban 
populace  had  yelled  itself  hoarse,  as  one  after 
another  the  war-barges  swung  around  the  great 
bend  of  the  river,  south  of  Thebes. 

Each  boat  was  marked  by  its  standard-of- 
cognizance,  and  no  sooner  was  its  mooring-stake 


92         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

driven  into  the  bank  than  a  yelling,  ges 
ticulating  and  joyfully-weeping  hoard  of  rela 
tives  and  friends  of  the  crew  burst  upon  its 
decks. 

From  that  moment,  all  signs  of  discipline 
utterly  vanished.  Men,  women  and  children  en 
tered  upon  one  of  those  inevitable  carouses 
which,  in  Egypt,  ever  followed  such  a  home 
coming. 

Everyone  was  coming  up  to  Thebes  in  order 
to  witness  the  great  celebration  in  honor  of  vic 
tory.  It  being  festival  time  even  the  indigent 
passengers  at  the  western  bank  were  to-day 
allowed  to  work  their  way  across  the  river  by 
bailing  the  leaky  ferryboats. 

Thi,  the  Queen-Mother,  in  company  with  the 
weak  but  pretty  young  queen,  left  the  Women's 
Apartments  early,  on  her  way  to  the  Banquet- 
hall.  As  she  passed  the  various  courts  and 
columned  porticos  the  watchful  eunuchs,  guards 
and  servants,  hurled  themselves  prostrate  at 
sight  of  her.  On  knees  and  elbows-  they  grov 
eled,  prayers  for  " health "  and  "long  life" 
upon  their  trembling  lips. 


Nofert-ari  Dances  Before  Pharoah    93 

To  the  dreaded  Thi,  as  to  Pharaoh  himself, 
honors  were  rendered  as  to  the  gods. 

And  she  whom  Egypt  feared,  and  Enana  the 
Magician  dared ;  she  who  had  been  called  by  her 
friends  Thi  the  Beautiful,  by  her  enemies  Thi 
the  Foreigner,  Thi  the  Commoner,  how  shall  we 
best  describe  her? 

The  Queen-Mother's  head  was  small,  her  low 
forehead  slightly  retreated.  Her  nose  was  of 
the  delicate  Syrian  type,  the  tip  somewhat 
rounded,  the  nostrils  well  opened.  From  be 
neath  artificially  prolonged  eyebrows,  eyebrows 
shaved  close  and  lightly  penciled  with  black 
antimony  paste,  glowed  two  large  and  lustrous 
eyes.  Thi's  lips  were  full,  but  well-cut.  Cruelty 
showed  in  the  drooping  corners. 

At  this  moment  Thi  was  clad  in  one  of  the 
richest  costumes  of  the  extravagant  New  Em 
pire,  a  pale-green  robe  minutely  plaited  and 
studded  at  intervals  with  lotus-flowers  in  beaten 
gold.  Gold  plumes,  which  rose  above  a  gem- 
encrusted  head-dress  of  vulture  form,  seemed 
to  give  height  and  dignity  to  one  who  was  in 
reality  a  short  and  slender  woman. 


94         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

About  the  great  Queen '&  throat,  wrist  and 
ankles  were  broad  bands  of  alternate  gold  bars 
and  minute  cylinders  of  beryl  and  amethyst. 
The  names  of  Aton,  the  Syrian  sun-god, 
stamped  in  rich  blue  f ayence,  hung  from  a  long 
chain  well  down  upon  her  high  bosom. 

Though  now  no  longer  in  the  dazzling  beauty 
of  her  youth,  Thi  still  possessed  many  a  charm 
of  face  and  form.  Yet,  had  she  been  devoid  of 
such,  her  voice  had  served  to  win  for  her  the 
great  and  powerful  empire  that  was  hers.  At 
the  sound  of  it,  one  knew  at  once  why  in  Akh- 
min,  where  first  her  parents  had  settled,  men 
had  called  her  Nightingale ;  why,  at  a  later  date, 
poets  and  singers  of  the  Theban  court  had  vied 
with  one  another  to  do  her  honor. 

No  mere  doll-faced  beauty  had  caused  the 
former  monarch  to  set  aside  Queen  Hanit,  an 
exalted  lady  of  the  line  of  Egypt's  royal  house 
and  a  lineal  descendant  of  Ra  the  sun-god,  yes, 
and  to  cause  the  death  of  the  unhappy  Prince 
Wazmes  whom  she  had  borne  him. 

Thi's  face  and  form  had  been  enough  to  set 
kings  and  princes  warring.  Yet,  to  those  prized 


Nofert-ari  Dances  Before  Pharoah    95 

gifts  of  Hathor,  Beauty's  Goddess,  had  Ptah  of 
Memphis  added  the  voice  of  a  ten-stringed  lute, 
and  Khnum,  Fashioner  of  Mankind,  an  intellect 
that  had  quickly  won  to  her  by  far  the  greater 
number  of  the  nobles  of  the  court. 

Thus  had  Thi,  a  foreigner,  a  woman  sprung, 
by  descent  at  least,  from  common  Syrian  stock, 
usurped  the  rightful  place  of  the  great  Queen 
Hanit,  descendant  of  kings  and  a  king's  wife. 

At  the  foot  of  a  short  flight  of  steps  leading  to 
the  festival  hall,  Thi  and  Menna  met.  They  ex 
changed  the  customary  string  of  effusive  greet 
ings  and  honorifics. 

As  the  Queen-Mother  swept  on  she  found  her 
way  blocked  by  the  crooked  form  of  Enana. 
The  wizened  old  Magician  stood  leaning  upon 
his  jackal-headed  staff  immediately  in  the  cen 
ter  of  the  narrow  passage. 

Enana 's  sole  garment  consisted  of  a  long  kilt 
or  tunic  fastened  at  the  waist  by  a  jeweled  belt, 
and  faced  in  front  with  squares  of  fine  gold. 
This  was  an  affectation  of  a  fashion  long  since 
forgotten. 

At  Thi's  cold  greeting  the  puckered   and 


96         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

heavily-lined  face  of  this  animated  mummy 
trembled  with  what  might  equally  well  have 
answered  for  a  smile  or  a  grimace.  Yet,  be 
neath  his  shaven  eyebrows,  his  half -veiled  eyes 
glittered  ominously,  as  they  lifted  for  a  second 
to  those  of  the  frowning  queen.  Enana  ignored 
her  greeting. 

Involuntarily  Thi  shuddered,  yet  inwardly 
cursed  herself  for  a  fool.  It  was  only  Enana,  a 
fellow  who  lived,  nay,  had  lived  for  centuries, 
'twas  said,  upon  the  credulity  and  superstition 
of  the  Thebans! 

Thi  swept  past  him  and  out  upon  the  balcony 
overlooking  the  long  hall.  There  she  found 
Noferith,  her  son's  wife,  the  Princess  Sesen, 
and  others  of  the  maids  of  honor,  awaiting  her. 

As  Thi  seated  herself,  Menna  passed  below 
her  balcony.  He  bowed  to  the  two  queens,  yet 
his  eyes  sought  those  of  the  Princess  Sesen. 

Menna,  the  King's  Overseer,  had  again 
yielded  himself  to  the  spell  of  a  pair  of  lustrous 
eyes  and  dimpled  cheeks.  He  loved  the  little 
Princess,  as  he  had  never  loved  before. 


Nofert-ari  Dances  Before  Pharoah    97 

For  the  past  few  weeks,  Menna  had  wooed 
the  Princess  assiduously.  Thi,  the  Queen- 
Mother,  for  reasons  of  her  own,  had  sought  to 
aid  him  in  his  suit. 

All  in  vain. 

The  little  Princess  would  have  none  of  him. 
Thi  knew  well,  as  in  fact  did  Menna,  that  Sesen's 
heart  was  filled  with  thoughts  of  Eamses,  with 
hopes  of  his  speedy  return.  Menna 's  servant, 
Bar,  called  by  many  " Menna 's  shadow,"  as  lean 
and  hungry  looking  as  a  neglected  ka,  sought  to 
convince  his  master  that  her  indifference  was 
due  to  a  present  lover,  some  favorite  among  the 
courtiers.  Menna  knew  better,  yet  affected  to 
believe  him.  Meanwhile,  unused  to  failure  in 
such  enterprises,  he  continued  to  besiege  the 
Princess  with  well-turned  couplets,  rich  and 
ever-varied  presents,  and  courtly  flatteries. 

At  this  moment,  his  restless  black  eyes  sought 
to  attract  those  of  the  all-unconscious  object  of 
his  affections.  His  glance  dwelt  with  delight 
upon  her  spotless  white  gala  robes.  He  noted 
the  graceful  wig  confined  by  a  rose-colored  fillet 


98         Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

from  which  drooped  fragrant  white  lotus- 
flowers;  the  huge  circular  gold  ear-rings,  and 
the  flashing  pectoral  ornament — a  glitter  of 
jeweled  inlays — which  rose  and  fell  at  every 
breath. 

Sesen's  cheeks  and  lips  were  artificially  red 
dened,  her  eyebrows  shaved  and  lightly  penciled 
with  kohl,  like  those  of  the  Queen  and  Queen- 
Mother.  Yet,  unlike  them,  her  tongue  was 
silent,  her  smiles  had  vanished.  Sesen's  somber 
eyes  evinced  little  interest  in  the  bustle  and  joy 
ful  preparations  about  her.  Twice  did  Noferith 
the  Queen,  touch  her  with  the  dainty  little  scent- 
tube  she  carried,  in  an  effort  to  recall  her  to  her 
laughter-loving  self. 

Finally,  after  the  sweet-scented  lotus  which 
each  lady  carried  had  been  changed  but  once, 
the  Princess  Sesen  rose,  pleading  faintness. 
The  sympathetic  Queen  whom  she  served,  al 
lowed  her  to  retire  without  exacting  the  formal 
prostration. 

At  her  withdrawal  Menna's  disappointment 
was  intense.  He  sank  back  deep  into  his  painted 


Nofert-ari  Dances  Before  Pharoah    99 

cedar  chair.  For  Menna  the  feast  was  at  an 
end. 

But  not  for  the  noisy  revelers  about  him. 
Even  the  haughty  members  of  the  Hittite  am 
bassador  's  suite  forgot  for  a  moment  their  lofty 
attitude  of  detachment. 

For  the  corpulent  Mentu,  son  of  the  Vizier 
Kena,  had  whetted  the  appetites  of  these 
Asiatics.  Through  the  somewhat  hesitating 
medium  of  a  sibilant  Canaanitic  dialect,  the  gar 
rulous  Mentu  had  somehow  managed  to  make 
them  understand  that  the  entire  kitchen  forces 
of  the  governor  of  Thinis  and  of  Hotepra, 
Prince  of  On,  had  been  brought  upstream  to  as 
sist  the  royal  cooks. 

"Indeed,"  said  Mentu,  "though  whirling 
sandstorms  bury  us;  though  drought  and  pes 
tilence  stalk  the  blistered  banks  of  Hapi,  yet 
shall  we  enjoy  the  choicest  viands,  the  rarest 
wines,"  he  clicked  his  purple  tongue;  "wines 
whose  seals  have  stood  intact  since  good  King 
Ahmes'  time!  But,  wait  until  thou  seest 
Nofert-ari !  Breath  of  Ea !  Then  shalt  thou  say  • 


ioo       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

'Baal  forgive  me!  Our  country  is  afar  off! 
Between  us  lies  the  raging  sea !  Egypt  is  a  land 
of  pleasure  and  delight!  Here  let  us  tarry!'  " 

And  so  it  proved.  For  marvel  followed  mar 
vel  with  almost  bewildering  rapidity. 

A  dish  that  won  the  plaudits  of  all  was  an 
enormous  platter  of  Syrian  craftsmanship. 
Upon  this  gold  dish,  in  the  midst  of  gold  reeds 
and  papyrus,  swam  ducks,  plover,  and  other 
aquatic  birds.  In  a  miniature  skiff,  a  diminu 
tive  Egyptian  boatman  propelled  his  silver 
craft  over  perfumed  water.  An  Egyptian  noble, 
standing  upright  in  the  bow,  aimed  a  jeweled 
throw-stick  at  a  flock  of  egrets  which,  with 
wings  outspread,  quivered  upon  gold  wires  high 
above  a  thicket  of  feathery  papyrus. 

The  realistic  little  figures  were  of  pastry,  the 
birds  cooked  with  all  their  feathers  on ! 

Dishes  of  this  sort  were  countless  in  number, 
the  design  of  the  last  more  astonishing  than  that 
of  the  first,  since  each  jealous  cook  had  sought 
to  outshine  his  rival,  both  in  originality  of  de 
sign  and  richness  of  material. 


Nofert-ari  Dances  Before  Pharoah  101 

But  now,  at  a  signal  from  Pennut  the  Usher, 
Pharaoh  rose  from  the  throne  and  advanced  to 
the  edge  of  the  dais.  To  his  feet  the  Usher  led 
the  youthful  Ramses. 

And  there,  to  the  accompaniment  of  a  deepen 
ing  roar  of  applause  from  the  onlookers,  Pha 
raoh  slipped  about  his  victorious  general's  neck 
that  coveted  distinction  of  the  Egyptian  mili 
tary,  the  necklace  of  gold  lions  and  flies. 

In  a  brief  lull  the  words  of  Pharaoh  echoed 
through  the  resplendent  hall : 

"Welcome,  thrice  welcome,  Ramses!  Let  the 
praises  of  thy  lord  expand  thy  heart !  Mei  has 
recounted  the  story  of  thy  skill  and  energy  in 
the  conducting  of  this  most  bitterly  fought  cam 
paign.  Where  now  are  the  chieftains  of  Nubia? 
They  have  been  ground  down  as  the  seed  of  the 
date  beneath  the  crusher,  as  eye-paint  upon  the 
palette.  Yea,  they  have  become  as  grain  which 
the  mill  has  crushed !  Now  are  the  chieftains  of 
Wawat  forced  to  sulk  in  the  caves  of  the  hyena. 
As  a  fly  hast  thou  worried  them,  as  a  lion  hast 
thou  destroyed  them !  We  place  these  precious 


102       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

orders  about  thy  throat.  From  this  day  thy  re 
nown  is  fragrant  as  the  perfume  of  the  Incense 
Country.  Arise!  Take  thy  place  beside  us 
as  '  Fan  -bearer  -on-  the  -right-of  -Pharaoh,  thy 
Lord!'" 

At  his  elevation  to  this  coveted  position,  re 
newed  applause  seemed  to  shake  the  painted 
roof. 

Friends  pressed  forward  to  kiss  the  jeweled 
chains  and  ornaments  that  had  but  now  left  the 
hand  of  the  god-king.  Some  hurled  themselves 
prostrate  before  these  rewards  which  only  Pha 
raohs  might  bestow. 

The  King  shot  a  covert  glance  in  the  direction 
of  the  Balcony  reserved  for  the  royal  harem. 
The  Queen-Mother  shook  her  jeweled  menat  in 
company  with  the  other  ladies.  Yet,  in  Thi's 
case,  the  action  represented  far  more  than  mere 
applause  or  acclamation. 

The  tactful  Belur,  Prince  of  the  Hittites,  in 
turn,  rose  and  added  a  few  well  chosen  words  of 
praise  for  a  difficult  task  so  promptly  and  blood- 
lessly  accomplished. 


Nofert-ari  Dances  Before  Pharoah  103 

Pharaoh,  watching  him  from  beneath  his 
richly  painted  canopy,  doubted  the  sincerity  of 
the  smile  that  played  about  the  handsome  lips  of 
the  Hittite.  Again  he  resolved  in  his  mind  the 
probable  cause  of  the  Hittite 's  inopportune 
visit. 

A  space  was  cleared  in  the  center  of  the  hall. 
The  tables,  still  groaning  under  the  burden  of 
their  barely  glanced  at  dainties,  disappeared  as 
if  by  magic.  The  well- woven  mats  and  glossy 
panther-skins  were  lifted  from  the  stucco  floor, 
and  out  upon  the  space  so  made  sprang  a  troupe 
of  lotus-wreathed  girls,  naked  save  for  the 
beaded  cincture  of  maidenhood  which  encircled 
their  slender  hips. 

Scattering  Syrian  crocuses  and  the  pure  white 
petals  of  the  lotus,  these  coffee-colored  little 
maids,  the  very  embodiment  of  childish  grace, 
pelted  one  another  with  the  perfumed  shower 
until  their  little  ankles  were  well-nigh  hidden. 

As  if  this  had  been  a  signal,  the  bright  blue 
warbonnet  of  Pharaoh  was  lifted  from  his  head ; 
an  Asiatic  slave-boy  bathed  the  royal  fingers 


104       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

and  Pharaoh,  with  a  nervous  twitch  to  his  long, 
thin  features,  leaned  back  wearily  against  the 
embroidered  cushions  placed  at  his  back  by  the 
attentive  Dedu. 

The  last  scene  of  what  had  proved  a  veritable 
feast  of  marvels  was  about  to  commence. 

The  sudden  entrance  of  the  merry  little  chil 
dren  had  been  the  prelude  to  "the  King's 
dance. ' ' 

This  dance  was  a  far  different  performance 
from  that  series  of  posturing  and  tumbling  com 
monly  provided  by  the  acrobats  of  old. 

And  it  was  thought  that  "the  King's  dance" 
could  only  be  performed  by  Nofert-ari,  claimed 
as  daughter  by  the  blind  Tutiya,  though  known 
to  the  irreverent  youth  of  Thebes  as  the  child 
of  Hathor,  of  the  Goddess  of  Beauty,  sprung 
from  the  head  of  Ba. 

At  one  end  of  the  flowery  carpet  left  by  the 
little  children  knelt  three  heavily-cloaked 
women.  Behind  them  squatted  eight  shaven- 
headed  harpers,  clutching  to  their  naked  breasts 
the  gilded  frames  of  their  ten-stringed  instru- 


Nofert-ari  Dances  Before  Pharoah  105 

ments.  Back  of  these  again  were  flute-players, 
players  on  the  hand  drum,  players  on  the  ivory 
castanets,  and  a  group  of  men  and  women  whose 
duty  it  was  to  mark  the  syncopated  time  by 
clapping  their  hands,  agitating  menats  of  jew 
eled  beads,  or  shaking  sistra  of  silver  or  gold. 

Suddenly,  like  the  blood-curdling  cry  of  a 
savage  desert-dweller,  the  high-pitched  call  of 
Tutiya  thrilled  the  heated  frames  of  the  expect 
ant  onlookers. 

Instantly  the  harpers,  in  a  soft  and  minor 
key,  commenced  an  air  at  once  slow  in  measure, 
plaintive  and  sad,  an  air  that  sounded  distant 
amid  the  confused  murmur  of  a  thousand  voices, 
the  clatter  of  dishes  and  the  distant  tap-tap  of 
the  butlers '  hurrying  sandals. 

The  shrill  cry  of  Tutiya  had  brought  two  of 
the  three  women  to  their  feet.  Dropping  the 
cloaks  that  had  enveloped  them,  they  took  their 
places  at  some  distance  in  front  of  the  third 
figure. 

Turning  toward  the  royal  dais  the  two 
dancers  sank  down  in  a  slowly  executed  cour- 


io6       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

tesy,  until  the  nodding  lotus-flowers  that 
wreathed  their  curling  wigs  swept  the  flower- 
strewn  floor  below  him. 

Then,  in  answer  to  Pharaoh's  scarcely  per 
ceptible  acknowledgment,  slowly  they  rose  upon 
their  slender  feet  and,  with  a  ''life  and  health, 
lords"  placed  themselves  once  more  beside  the 
still  motionless  central  figure. 

All  eyes  were  centered  upon  this  well-cloaked 
figure.  It,  too,  now  rose. 

Was  it  motionless?  It  called  to  mind  the 
birth  of  some  glorious  butterfly  or  moth. 
The  undulating  movement  that  one  sees  in  the 
soon  to  be  discarded  shell  best  described  the 
bursting  of  Nof  ert-ari  upon  the  delighted  vision 
of  her  audience  as,  shivering  with  the  peculiar 
motion  seen  but  in  those  creatures  of  a  day,  she 
suddenly  dropped  the  dull-brown  cloak  that  en 
veloped  her,  and  appeared  fresh  and  smiling  to 
their  view. 

In  the  dancer  Nof  ert-ari  we  see  a  slim,  though 
willowy  form,  a  form  and  countenance  that  rep 
resented  the  very  arch-type  of  all  that  an  Egyp- 


Nofert-ari  Dances  Before  Pharoah  107 

tian  held  beautiful  in  women.  A  pair  of  spark 
ling  eyes,  elongated,  obliquely  set,  gleamed  in 
frames  of  blue-black  antimony,  which  served  to 
accentuate  the  striking  whiteness  in  which  swam 
their  fathomless  pupils. 

On  Nofert-ari 's  head  was  set  a  dark  brown  wig 
which,  covered  thickly  as  it  was  with  a  myriad 
little  knots  and  curls,  dropped  in  well-regulated 
layers  until  it  grazed  the  tips  of  her  thin  and 
high-set  shoulders.  This  dainty  perruque, 
fringing  with  its  line  of  dancing  curls  a  fore 
head  that  rivaled  polished  jasper,  and  touching 
as  it  did  at  every  move  and  gesture  the  outer 
pencilings  of  her  shaven  and  thickly  kohl- 
stained  eyebrows,  seemed  to  soften  the  rather 
prominent  cheekbones  and  perhaps  too  pointed 
chin.  The  quiver  of  her  wide  though  delicate 
nostrils,  bespoke  a  passionate  nature,  which  the 
faintest  of  dimples  and  the  ivory  flash  of  small 
though  regular  teeth,  did  their  best  to  contra 
dict.  The  dancer's  full  round  throat,  her  arms, 
wrists,  and  well-formed  bust,  were  ablaze  with 
jewels,  amid  which  pale  green  beryl,  dew-like 


io8        Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

crystal,  rose  carnelian,  gold,  electrum  and  sil 
ver,  gleamed  in  opulent  splendor,  as  her  bosom 
rose  and  fell. 

As  she  stood,  a  pale  blue  lotus  drooping  above 
each  hidden  ear,  a  jeweled  menat  in  one  hand, 
her  coffee-colored  and  well  oiled  skin  agleam 
with  the  reflected  light  of  innumerable  prismatic 
colors,  she  seemed  less  an  animated  human  form 
than  a  figure  carved,  by  Ptah  the  god  of  sculp 
tors  himself,  from  a  block  of  glowing  opal. 

With  her  first  perceptible  motions  the  music 
rose  to  the  major  key.  The  tune-beaters  ac 
centuated  the  broken  rhythm  more  and  more, 
while  Tutiya,  her  heavy  though  sightless  eyes 
glowing  in  their  painted  depths — she  too  had 
once  been  hailed  a  Theban  favorite — burst  ever 
and  anon  into  the  " Nubian  cry,"  that  blood- 
stirring  cry  which  acted  as  an  incentive  to  her 
now  posturing  daughter. 

In  the  center  of  the  flowery  carpet  stood 
Nofert-ari,  languidly  shaking  her  jeweled  menat. 
Slowly  she  turned  upon  herself,  the  muscles  of 


Nofert-ari  Dances  Before  Pharoah  109 

her  lithe  little  body  seeming  to  quiver  in  meas 
ure  with  the  vibrant  thrumming  of  the  many 
stringed  harps. 

When  again  she  faced  the  Egyptian  mon 
arch's  dais,  unlike  the  impassive  gaze  of  Pha 
raoh,  her  features  seemed  to  have  become  trans 
formed.  The  "King's  dance,"  into  which  she 
now  threw  all  her  fascination,  all  her  mesmeric 
charm  and  unrivaled  ability,  portrayed  by 
movement  of  the  body  and  gesture  alone  the 
meeting  and  stolen  tryst  of  a  pair  of  lovers. 

At  first  she  affected  the  love-smitten  beauty, 
a  coy  beauty,  mindful  of  her  many  charms. 

Suddenly  with  a  start,  a  pigeon-like  coo  of 
delight,  she  appeared  to  throw  herself  into  her 
lover's  arms. 

Again,  with  all  the  abandon  of  an  artless 
coquetry,  she  stretched  out  her  long  arms  and 
supple  fingered  hands  as  if  to  push  him  from 
her. 

Finally,  with  one  or  two  graceful  little  steps, 
accompanied  by  an  arch  glance  over  her 


no       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

shoulder,  Nofert-ari  advanced  to  the  very  edge 
of  the  royal  dais  and  commenced  that  portion  of 
the  dance  for  which  she  was  so  famed. 

Into  this  every  muscle  of  her  supple  body  was 
forced  to  move  in  unison  or  singly  as  she  willed. 
Her  lustrous  eyes  gleamed  beneath  their  dark 
ened  eyebrows,  her  expanded  nostrils  quivered, 
her  full  vermilioned  lips  were  parted,  the  very 
veins  in  her  forehead  throbbed  in  measure  with 
the  refrain.  As  her  supple  arms,  wrists,  and 
hands  played  about  her  body  with  a  wavelike — 
an  indescribable  motion — her  jeweled  bust  and 
firm,  yet  flexible  hips,  swayed  to  the  spasmodic 
movements  natural  to  the  dance. 

The  music  ever  increased  in  volume  and,  as 
if  to  add  contrast  to  the  grace  and  beauty  of 
the  peerless  dancer,  a  hideous  naked  pigmy, 
beating  a  tiny  onoga-skin  drum,  leaped  out  upon 
the  floor  beside  her,  and  grotesquely  imitated 
her  every  move  and  gesture. 

Thus,  to  a  chorus  of  wild  staccato  yells  from 
Tutiya  and  the  excited  time-beaters,  Nofert-ari, 
her  form  seeming  to  undulate  in  fierce  spas- 


Nofert-ari  Dances  Before  Pharoah  in 

modic  waves  from  breast  to  hip,  with  arms 
thrown  high  above  her  head,  fingers  clenched 
and  eyes  fast  closed,  sank  slowly  to  the  stucco 
floor. 

Presently,  as  she  rose,  still  trembling,  and 
while  the  echoes  of  that  clamorous  applause  still 
reverberated  amid  the  flaring  lotus-capitals,  a 
royal  usher  hurried  to  her  side,  and  in  the  name 
of  Pharaoh,  presented  her  with  a  blue  fayence 
goblet  of  lotiform  design.  Inlaid  in  green, 
white  and  red  about  the  foot  was  an  inscription 
revealing  her  euphonious  and  happily-chosen 
name,  Nofert-ari, " She  who  is  made  of  beauty." 

Following  the  dance,  Pharaoh  had  retired 
within  himself.  He  had  assumed  an  air  of 
studied  abstraction  and  aloofness. 

Yet,  Dedu  remarked  signs  of  nervousness  in 
the  twitching  of  the  jaw.  Dedu  had  been  born 
in  the  palace,  in  the  self-same  year  as  his  ex 
alted  master.  Dedu  might  well  have  been 
called,  as  indeed  at  times  he  was,  his  master's 
"double,"  his  other  self. 

In  Pharaoh's  slightly  twitching  hands  and  in 


112       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

the  covert  glances  which  from  time  to  time  he 
directed  toward  the  haughty  leader  of  the 
Hittites,  Dedu  spelled  expectancy  and,  withal, 
a  nameless  fear. 

Then  it  was  the  Hittite,  not  Enana  the  Ma 
gician,  his  royal  master  feared!  Dedu  knew 
there  had  been  much  speculation  as  to  the  true 
meaning  of  Belur's  sudden  and  quite  unex 
pected  visit  to  the  Egyptian  capital. 

So  far,  oriental  courtesy — coupled  with  the 
Egyptian's  inherent  regard  for  the  rights  of 
hospitality — had  forbidden  any  outward  evi 
dences  of  impatience  on  the  part  of  Pharaoh 
or  his  august  Mother. 

And  Pharaoh  did  well  to  distrust  the  wily 
Hittite.  With  the  pause  that  had  followed  the 
withdrawal  of  Nofert-ari  and  her  assistants,  the 
Asiatic  prince  rose  to  his  feet,  slowly  lifting  his 
jeweled  hand  to  command  attention.  His  keen 
glance  swept  the  heads  of  the  swaying  crowd 
which  craned  its  neck  the  better  to  see  him  and 
to  hear  his  words. 

The  Prince  of  Charchemish  bowed  to  Pha- 


Nofert-ari  Dances  Before  Pharoah  113 

raoh.  Slowly  lie  arranged  the  sash  which 
served  to  hold  in  place  his  fringed  robes  and 
the  little  ivory-handled  dagger  which  rested  in 
its  folds. 

Silence  fell  upon  the  noisy  revelers,  an 
ominous  silence.  It  seemed  as  if  Pharaoh's  ner 
vousness  had  somehow  mysteriously  communi 
cated  itself  to  the  various  groups  of  Egyptian 
nobles  gathered  about  him. 

Belur  the  Hittite  began  to  speak.  He  dwelt 
at  length  upon  the  many  occasions  during  which 
Egyptian  ships  had  brought  grain  and  other 
food  to  famine-stricken  Asia.  He  thanked  Great 
Pharaoh  for  his  present  hospitality  and  the 
courteous  consideration  which  had  been  shown 
him  since  first  he  landed  upon  the  fertile  soil  of 
Egypt.  He  dwelt  upon  the  power  for  good 
exerted  by  Egypt,  not  only  in  Asia,  but  among 
the  savage  tribes  of  Nubia,  as  witness  the  vic 
torious  campaign  just  brought  to  a  close,  and 
which  they  were  at  that  moment  celebrating. 

knowing  the  might  of  Pharaoh,  lord  of 
Egypt,  Bimur,  King  of  Charchemish,  his 


H4       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

brother,  had  sent  him  down  into  Egypt,  that  he 
might  effect  an  alliance  with  the  throne  of 
Egypt,  an  alliance  which  he  was  sure  would 
eventually  prove  of  mutual  benefit  to  Thebes 
and  Charchemish  alike. 

In  token  of  his  fraternal  esteem  Rimur  had 
sent  to  Egypt  a  full  shipload  of  the  treasure  of 
his  country  and  of  the  countries  adjacent 
thereto.  Its  hold  was  filled  with  the  gold  and 
silver  vessels  of  Zahi,  with  swords  and  daggers 
cunningly  damascened  with  gold,  the  work  of 
Megiddan  craftsmen.  Inlaid  corselets  were 
there,  jeweled  quivers,  gauntlets  worked  with 
gold  and  silver  threads,  and  shawls  for  the 
ladies  of  the  courts,  so  finely  woven  that  they 
might  be  passed  with  ease  through  Pharaoh's 
golden  signet-ring.  To  the  Queen,  the  Hittite 
King  had  sent  a  covered  carrying-chair,  of 
stamped  leather  richly  gilded;  to  the  august 
Queen-Mother,  a  golden  goblet  from  the  hancls 
of  Ilg  of  Kadesh;  and  lastly,  to  Pharaoh,  his 
kingly  brother,  three  fully  equipped  chariots, 
together  with  nine  Syrian  horses,  swifter  than 


Nofert-ari  Dances  Before  Pharoah  115 

the  north- wind,  to  draw  them  I  In  the  name  of 
King  Rimur,  his  brother,  he  asked  for  the  hand 
of  the  eldest  daughter  of  Pharaoh  his  brother, 
the  Princess  Aten-merit,  in  marriage ! 

During  this  speech  Pharaoh's  nervous  fears 
had  gradually  given  place  to  astonishment  and 
finally  to  anger.  This  new-found  arrogance  and 
assurance  among  the  "little  people"  was  an 
entirely  new  departure. 

As  he  rose  to  his  feet  to  reply  there  was  a 
look  upon  his  face  which  neither  Belur  nor  his 
own  courtiers  had  expected  to  see.  Before  that 
look  even  Belur 's  assumed  effrontery  slowly 
dissolved. 

"Son  of  Rabatta,  it  is  now  less  than  a  year 
since  a  Hittite  embassy  stood  within  this  very 
hall!  Like  thee,  it  came  freighted  with  the 
rarest  and  richest  products  of  the  Asiatics !  If 
we  remember  rightly  its  offerings  included  one 
hundred  logs  of  Lebanus  cedar,  five  hundred 
pounds  of  Cilician  silver,  three  hundred  pounds 
of  the  true  lapis-lazuli  of  Babylon,  two  hun 
dred  gold  and  electrum  goblets,  with  choice 


n6       Hank:  the  Enchantress 

silver  vases  of  the  workmanship  of  Zahi!  In 
comparison  with  this,  thy  meager  offerings 
seem  to  prove  that  Charchemish  hath  lost  its 
hold  upon  the  Lebanus,  upon  the  Cilician  mines, 
upon  the  princes  of  Zahi,  of  Kadesh  and 
Megiddo?  Or  perhaps  thy  brother  hath  for 
gotten  the  circumstances  which  prompted  his 
father's  princely  gift?  Not  with  gifts  for 
favors  to  be  received  came  Eabatta  thy  father ! 
Nay,  with  tribute,  with  the  tribute  of  a  vassal 
did  he  come !  With  tribute  exacted  through  fear 
of  Egypt's  might. 

"Take  back  this  message  to  Eimur  thy 
brother!  Thus  saith  Pharaoh  of  Egypt:  '  'Tis 
but  a  breath  of  time  since  Babatta  knelt  at 
Pharaoh's  knee,  swearing  fealty!  "Wherefore 
hath  Eimur,  his  son,  failed  to  do  the  like  ? ' 

"As  to  thy  insolent  proposal,  when  hath  a 
Daughter  of  the  Sun  left  the  land  of  Egypt  at 
the  beck  and  call  of  rebel  princelings?  'Tis  in 
our  mind  to  hold  thee  hostage  for  thy  brother's 
quick  return  to  reason.  Yet,  go!  And  with 


Nofert-ari  Dances  Before  Pharoah  117 

thee  take  thy  gifts,  fit  only  to  dazzle  some  sav 
age  Amu!" 

At  Pharaoh's  words  Belur  the  Hittite  took  a 
step  nearer  to  the  royal  dais.  A  covert  sneer 
played  about  his  well-cut  lips,  though  his  eyes 
were  hard,  his  cheek  pale.  Raising  his  hand 
with  a  gesture  almost  threatening  once  again 
he  addressed  the  trembling  monarch : 

"Hear  me,  Pharaoh!  One  other  word  my 
august  brother  sends  to  Pharaoh,  king  of 
Egypt.  The  Hittite  army  is  to-day  one  hundred 
thousand  strong.  The  princes  of  Zahi  and 
Naharin,  the  kings  of  Kadesh,  Gezer  and  Me- 
giddo,  have  joined  their  forces  unto  his !  Of  thy 
Syrian  vassals  half  have  left  thee !  The  Kha- 
biri  are  up !  Bibaddi  alone  stands  true  to  thee 
and,  even  he  by  now  doubtless  has  fed  a  vul 
ture's  maw. 

"Hearken  to  the  words  of  Rimur,  my  brother ! 
Thy  present  state  is  well  known  to  us!  Thy 
plague- stricken  land  stands  on  the  brink  of  a 
great  religious  war !  In  Nubia  to  the  south,  as 


n8       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

in  thy  Asiatic  possessions  to  the  north,  thy 
vassal-states  have  risen  in  revolt  against  thee ! 
Nay,  Pharaoh,  heed  the  words  of  Rimur  my 
brother,  or  thy  Asiatic  possessions  are  lost  to 
thee !  Great  Kheta,  the  combined  armies  of  all 
the  Asiatic  principalities,  stand  at  thy  very 
gates  ready  to  devour  thee !  Thus  saith  Rimur, 
Lord  of  lords,  King  of  kings,  Lion  that  Devour- 
eth  Lions  I" 

Pharaoh's  face  was  terrible  to  see.  His  jaws 
worked,  the  veins  upon  his  forehead  stood  out 
like  knotted  ropes,  his  large  eyes  flashed  with 
fires  of  wrath.  He  quickly  raised  his  golden 
scepter  as  if  he  would  have  felled  the  audacious 
Hittite  at  his  feet.  The  wand  of  sard  and  gold 
snapped  between  his  clenched  fingers. 

Controlling  himself  by  a  mighty  effort  Pha 
raoh  pointed  to  the  door  and  somehow  managed 
to  articulate  the  one  word:  "Begone!" 


CHAPTER  IX 

THE  LUMINOUS  BOOK 

HIGH  up  among  the  tombs  lived  Unis, 
neophyte  of  the  Temple  of  Amen.    The 
abandoned  tomb-chapel  which  served  to 
shelter  him   immediately  overlooked  the  tree- 
embowered  villa  of  Enana  the  Magician,  for 
whom,  at  times,  the  youthful  prophet  worked. 
His  only  attendant  was  Bata,  an  aged  Ethio 
pian,  not  so  long  ago  his  nurse. 

Bata  was  seen  almost  daily  in  the  market 
place.  Here  she  not  only  collected  the  various 
offerings  of  the  simple  herdsmen  and  peasants, 
but  acted  as  go-between  in  the  affairs  of  the 
superstitious  farmers,  herdsmen  and  petty 
officials  who  were  in  the  habit  of  consulting  her 
master.  For  Unis  carried  on  a  desultory  prac 
tice  in  necromancy,  astrology  and  divination. 
Bata  collected  the  fees,  which  were  generally 
paid  in  kind. 

119 


120       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

Unis  spent  the  few  "auspicious  days'*  which 
the  Egyptian  calendar  allowed  to  each  month, 
seated  upon  a  low  bench  beneath  a  sycamore 
tree  on  the  border  of  a  narrow  canal,  immedi 
ately  opposite  Enana's  island  home.  Here  he 
listened  to  those  who  came  to  consult  him  or 
wrote  letters  for  those  who  required  it. 

In  his  character  of  seer,  Unis  had  found  it 
necessary  to  act  in  many  varied  capacities. 
During  the  course  of  a  single  day,  he  was  often 
called  upon  to  act  as  scribe,  physician,  exorcist, 
diviner,  faith-healer  and  farmer. 

Unis  was  supposed  to  know  the  past ;  he  could 
foretell  the  future.  He  could  "see"  one  who 
had  tampered  with  his  neighbor 's  landmarks  or 
altered  the  flow  of  water  in  his  neighbor's  dykes. 
He  could  forewarn  of  an  approaching  sand 
storm — that  nine  days'  terror  of  the  traveler. 
He  could  provide  the  necessary  amulets  against 
the  bite  of  snake  or  scorpion.  He  could  tell  the 
whereabouts  of  lost  cattle  or  name  that  man  or 
woman  who  had  made  off  with  the  offerings  to 
the  dead. 

Thus,  a  timid  maiden,  desirous  of  a  love- 


The  Luminous  Book          121 

charm,  was  advised  to  drink  the  ashes  of  a 
lizard  dissolved  in  water  and  to  swallow  it,  with 
a  prayer  to  Hathor,  some  auspicious  evening 
when  Aah,  the  silver  moon,  shone  at  her 
brightest. 

Consulted  by  some  young  gallant  of  the  city, 
on  similar,  though  less  wholesome  lines,  Unls 
would  draw  a  circle  in  the  sand.  A  circle,  a  gold 
bangle !  Money  can  open  many  a  door  I 

The  circle  might  be  readily  understood,  but 
the  outline  of  the  jackal  above  it — death's  em 
blem,  spiritual  and  physical — was  generally 
beyond  the  young  man's  powers  of  comprehen 
sion. 

To  the  aged  Teta,  desirous  of  a  potion  which 
would  assure  to  him  the  wished  for  one  hundred 
and  ten  years,  Unis  replied:  "I  see  the  fea-bird 
poised  above  thy  tomb. ' '  Teta  was  found  dead 
upon  his  couch  the  following  morning. 

To  Benta  the  ambitious  Unis  had  taught  the 
value  of  patience  by  pointing  to  Auta  hard  at 
work  upon  his  granite  statue  of  the  Princess 
Bekit-aton. 

Six  months  of  cutting,  chiseling,  rubbing  and 


122       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

burnishing  had  the  persevering  Auta  lavished 
upon  his  masterpiece,  and,  throughout  those 
weary  months,  but  three  simple  implements  had 
served  him  for  his  difficult  task — a  wooden  mal 
let,  a  bronze  chisel  and  a  flint  burnisher.  Apart 
from  this,  sand,  water  and  emery-dust  were 
Auta's  only  helpers. 

Though  Unis  was  consulted  by  peasant  and 
petty  official,  peasant  and  official  alike  con 
sidered  him  mad.  As  such  he  became  a  person 
to  be  pitied  and  cared  for,  as  one  afflicted  by  the 
gods,  yet  one  through  whom  the  gods  spoke. 
Thus,  Unis  could  come  and  go  wheresoever  and 
whensoever  he  pleased. 

Except  for  his  periodic  visits  to  the  sycamore, 
Unis  was  rarely  seen.  All  his  time  was  spent 
in  the  great  temple  library  or  amidst  the  crum 
bling  shrines  and  half-choked  tombs  of  the 
necropolis. 

To  the  guards  of  the  cemetery  he  was  some 
one  's  animated  ka,  a  restless  'soul'  seeking,  per 
haps,  to  identify  his  ruined  tomb  or  to  find  and 
become  reunited  to  the  lost  'souls'  of  his  wife 
and  children.  He  was  constantly  on  the  lips 


The  Luminous  Book          123 

of  the  public-storytellers  as  an  ever-present 
example  of  the  truth  of  one  of  the  oldest  and 
most  familiar  of  Egyptian  wondertales,  the 
Adventures  of  Menti. 

In  point  of  fact,  Unis  was  as  much  flesh  and 
blood  as  anyone.  Yet  none,  whether  courtier, 
priest  or  peasant,  could  have  guessed  the  reason 
of  his  tireless  researches  among  the  open  shafts 
and  ruined  chapels  of  the  older  part  of  the  great 
Theban  cemetery. 

However,  the  very  fact  that  the  Thebans  were 
so  frequently  regaled  with  the  story  of  Menti 
might  well  have  given  them  a  clue  as  to  the  true 
reason  of  Unis'  occupation  in  that  haunted  spot. 

It  seems  that  Menti 's  "spirit"  returned  from 
enjoying  a  few  hours  among  living  men  and  re- 
entered  his  mummy  to  find  that  the  bodies  of 
his  wife  and  child  were  missing  from  their 
coffins.  Menti  at  once  compelled  their  restora 
tion  by  means  of  his  knowledge  of  the  names, 
charms  and  talismans  contained  in  "the  magic 
Book  of  Thoth. 

Written,  'twas  said,  by  the  God  Thoth  him 
self,  this  wonder-working  Book  had  once  be- 


124       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

longed  to  that  Architect  and  Seer  of  old,  Im- 
hotep.  It  was  a  common  saying  in  Unis'  day 
that  the  Great  Step  Pyramid  west  of  white- 
walled  Memphis,  could  never  have  been  raised 
had  it  not  been  for  the  compelling  incantations 
— recited  in  the  prescribed  attitude  and  with  the 
proper  tone  of  voice — by  that  now  deified  archi 
tect  of  the  godkings  of  old,  Imhotep. 

Before  the  death  of  Imhotep,  it  was  said  that 
he  had  hidden  the  Magic  Book  behind  the  sar 
cophagus  in  which  lay  King  Zozer,  his  master, 
deep  within  his  stupendous  pyramid.  A  thou 
sand  years  later  its  hiding  place  had  been  re 
vealed  to  Amenhotep,  son  of  Hap,  in  a  dream. 

Amenhotep's  possession  of  the  Book  must 
have  been  a  fact.  How  else  could  he  have 
erected  the  colossal  Temple  to  the  "spirit"  of 
the  late  Pharaoh ;  how  otherwise  could  he  have 
built  the  Temple  at  Kha-en-Mat,  the  beautiful 
Temple  on  the  Island  and  the  great  colonnaded 
Temple  of  Amen,  upon  which,  at  the  command 
of  Pharaoh  Akhten-aton,  work  had  but  recently 
been  relinquished. 


The  Luminous  Book          125 

Indeed,  without  Thoth  to  assist  him,  who 
could  have  raised  the  two  great  statues  of  the 
late  Pharaoh,  over  seven  hundred  tons  in 
weight.  Who  could  have  lifted  above  the  court 
the  stupendous  architraves  of  his  Mortuary 
Temple,  two  hundred  tons  of  stone,  and,  finally, 
who  could  have  perfected  the  huge  stone  tablet, 
thirty  feet  in  height,  and  covered  it  with  gold 
and  gems?  None  but  the  God  Thoth,  of  course ! 

But,  would  Thoth  willingly  stop  the  Sunboat 
and  descend  to  earth  merely  to  raise  for  men 
monuments  that  should  rival  the  very  halls  of 
the  gods  themselves? 

Not  unless  compelled  thereto  by  the  fact  that 
his  Names  were  known  to  mortals,  his  stolen 
Talismans  in  the  possession  of  some  inhabitant 
of  earth. 

One  object  alone  on  earth  contained  those 
Hidden  Names  and  Talismans,  together  with 
the  "Utterances"  which  could  compel  both 
Thoth  and  Set  to  leave  their  appointed  places 
in  the  sky  and  descend  to  earth. 

This   series   of  irresistible   "incantations," 


126       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

these  compelling  " utterances"  which  could  thus 
drag  the  very  gods  from  heaven,  were  all  con 
tained  in  the  "Luminous  Book  of  Thoth." 

Herein  were  inscribed  the  Hidden  Names  of 
all  the  Gods,  the  Triads,  the  Enneads  of  the 
Sky.  Herein  were  the  Mysterious  Names  of  the 
Keepers  of  the  Double  Gates  of  Heaven ;  of  the 
Serpents  that  guard  the  approaches  of  Duat,  of 
Ea  in  his  Boat,  of  Osiris  on  his  Throne ! 

So  awe-inspiring  a  hold  upon  the  imagina 
tion  of  the  Thebans  had  the  legend  of  this  mys 
terious  Book  that  its  name  was  never  men 
tioned.  Earely,  indeed,  was  it  alluded  to  by  the 
priests. 

Like  that  of  Pharaoh,. the  sun-god  manifest  in 
the  flesh,  like  that  of  the  Unseen  Statue  of  the 
Great  Temple  of  Amen,  like  that  of  the  ab 
horred  Crocodile  God  of  Ombos,  its  name  was 
never  taken  upon  the  lips. 

When  the  architect  Amenhotep,  son  of  Hap, 
was  gathered  to  his  fathers,  Pharaoh  com 
manded  that  he  should  be  buried  beneath  a 


The  Luminous  Book          127 

little  temple  which  stood  somewhat  to  the  south 
of  his  own  stupendous  mortuary  temple. 

Here,  for  a  time,  Unis  had  acted  as  lector, 
intoning  the  prayers  and  offering  to  the  hidden 
&o-statue  of  the  dead  architect  the  various  por 
tions  of  meat,  bread  and  wine  with  which  Pha 
raoh  had  endowed  the  tomb,  out  of  taxes 
received  from  the  nearby  town  of  Onit.  In  so 
doing,  Unis  stood  immediately  above  the  sub 
terranean  chamber  in  which  the  mummy  of 
Amenhotep  lay. 

Unis  had  been  called  from  his  duties  at  the 
son  of  Hap's  tomb  by  Enana,  and  set  to  worE 
among  the  ancient  manuscripts  of  the  great 
library  of  Amen. 

Enana  would  have  him  find  some  clue  to  the 
present  whereabouts  of  the  Book  of  Thoth.  As 
he  loved  life  and  feared  death  he  was  told  to 
keep  for  his  master's  ears  alone  any  news  to 
this  effect. 

Unis  soon  became  an  initiate  of  the  Sorcerers 
of  Amen,  then  minor  prophet  of  Amen.  "With 


128       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

such  a  powerful  master  as  Enana,  First  Magi 
cian  of  the  Temple,  Unis  felt  that  he  should  go 
far.  He  gave  himself  up  wholly  to  the  work  in 
hand.  Certain  hints  gleaned  from  the  docu 
ments  led  him  to  believe  that  the  Book  had,  as  of 
old,  been  secreted  in  a  tomb,  in  this  case  an  un 
named  tomb  on  the  western  shore. 

Unis  took  up  his  residence  in  one  of  the  aban 
doned  tombs.  With  unremitting  assiduity  and 
stoical  fortitude  he  spent  day  after  day  among 
the  excoriated  boulders,  the  dusty  mounds,  the 
bat-infested  shafts  and  tumbled-in  shrines 
which  constituted  the  older  corner  of  the  The- 
ban  necropolis. 

In  this  fruitless  search  the  Gods  Hunger  and 
Thirst  were  his  only  companions. 

Unis  turned  once  more  to  the  library.  With 
indomitable  patience  he  continued  his  re 
searches  among  its  unending  shelves  of  musty 
documents. 

Soon  he  noticed  that  the  name  of  Amenhotep, 
the  son  of  Hap,  was  very  frequently  coupled 
with  that  of  the  lost  Book.  In  fact,  Unis  finally 


The  Luminous  Book          129 

convinced  himself  that  the  Book  lay  buried  with 
the  body  of  that  old  sage,  in  the  subterranean 
vault  of  the  little  temple  at  which  he  had  for 
merly  served. 

Armed  with  permission  to  spend  a  night  in 
the  temple,  Unis  waited  until  Ahmes,  the  pres 
ent  &a-priest,  had  retired  into  the  outer  fore 
court,  in  an  alcove  of  which  he  slept.  When  the 
aged  priest  had  snuffed  out  his  lamp,  Unis 
descended  into  the  vault  immediately  beneath 
the  offering-tablet  and  altar. 

With  determined  perseverance,  Unis  tapped 
walls  and  floor,  slowly,  systematically.  In  the 
western  corner  of  the  floor  his  work  met  with 
success.  The  pavement  thereabouts  emitted  a 
hollow  sound.  In  a  few  moments  Unis  had  lifted 
a  square  slab  which  fitted  so  nicely  to  the  floor 
that  the  joints  had  been  invisible.  Lamp  in 
hand,  Unis  descended  a  short  flight  of  steps, 
picked  his  way  along  an  uneven  rocky  passage, 
and  presently  stood  in  the  vaulted  tomb-cham 
ber  of  the  son  of  Hap. 

For  an  instant  unreasoning  fear  clutched  at 


130       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

the  heart  of  the  reckless  priest.  There  stood 
the  alabaster  sarcophagus  which  held  the  body 
of  the  sage.  Unis  read  the  inscription  engraved 
upon  the  side:  "Amenhotep,  born  of  Yatu;  his 
father  Hap,  son  of  Hap,  Justified  of  Osiris." 
There  lay  Amenhotep  and,  with  him,  the  Book. 

The  Book  I  Unis 'fears  vanished.  Trembling 
with  excitement  and  high  hopes  the  young  priest 
set  himself  to  his  self-imposed  task.  It  was  an 
auspicious  night  in  the  calendar  of  the  prophets 
of  Amen!  The  Star  of  Thoth  was  in  the 
ascendent ! 

Unis  set  to  work  with  a  short,  stout  bronze 
bar.  Hour  after  hour  went  by  unnoted  by  the 
feverishly  excited  youth. 

At  last  the  stone  cover  yielded  to  his  efforts. 
Unis'  eyes  gleamed  with  joy  and  anticipation. 
Enana,  his  master,  would  be  hailed  as  one  with 
Imhotep,  builder  of  the  pyramids,  with  Ptah- 
hotep  the  Philosopher,  with  Amenhotep,  son  of 
Hap,  himself!  Perhaps  he  too  would  compel 
the  gods  to  do  his  bidding ! 

Unis  gave  a  last  push  to  the  great  cover.  It 
fell  to  the  sand-covered  floor  with  a  plull  thud. 


The  Luminous  Book          131 

He  lowered  the  lamp.  There  before  him  was 
the  outer  coffin  of  the  old  sage.  This,  in  turn, 
Unis  lifted  and  found,  beneath,  the  gem- 
crusted  coffin — solid  gold  it  seemed — in  which 
Amenhotep's  royal  master  had  caused  the  son 
of  Hap  to  be  placed. 

The  heat  in  the  little  chamber  was  intense. 
The  blood  in  Urn's '  temples  throbbed  with  his 
exertions.  His  body  gleamed  in  the  flickering 
light ;  perspiration  ran  from  every  pore.  For  a 
time  the  youth  returned  to  the  upper  chamber 
where  he  could  fill  his  lungs  with  the  purer  and 
cooler  air. 

But  not  for  long.  In  a  few  moments  he  re 
turned  to  the  tomb  chamber.  He  lifted  the  gor 
geous  coffin-lid  from  the  linen-swathed  form  it 
concealed.  At  once  the  stifling  odor  of  myrrh, 
liquidambar,  cinnamon,  and  other  strong  es 
sences  again  almost  overcame  him. 

Unis  bent  down.  With  an  effort  he  lifted  the 
mummified  figure.  He  felt  about  underneath 
the  head.  Nothing !  Unis  tried  the  feet  of  the 
tightly-draped  figure.  No  book ! 

Then  Unis  did  something  for  which  he  knew 


132       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

punishment  on  earth  was  severe.  What  might 
be  his  fate  in  the  hereafter  Unis  did  not  dare  to 
think!  Lifting  the  body  from  the  coffin  alto 
gether,  he  commenced  slowly  and  methodically 
to  unwrap  it.  Yard  upon  yard  of  aromatic 
linens  he  loosened,  until  finally  nothing  but  the 
blackened  form  of  Amenhotep  lay  before  him. 

No  eyes  had  Unis  for  the  jewels  with  which 
Amenhotep 's  sorrowing  master  had  covered  the 
dead  architect.  The  throbbing  brain  of  Unis 
was  concentrated  upon  but  one  thing,  the  Magic 
Book. 

It  was  not  in  the  wrappings.  It  was  not  be 
tween  the  knees  of  the  deceased,  where,  as  Unis 
knew,  so  often  documents  are  placed.  It  was 
not  between  the  folded  hands  of  Amenhotep.  It 
was  neither  at  his  head  nor  at  his  feet. 

Unis  replaced  the  body  in  its  coffin,  throwing 
the  linens  in  upon  it  pellmell.  He  covered  it 
with  its  two  wooden  covers.  The  great  stone 
outer  cover  he  knew  must  stay  where  it  had 
fallen.  He  could  have  that  replaced  by  others, 
following  his  report  on  the  present  condition  of 


The  Luminous  Book          133 

the  extra  wrappings  of  the  son  of  Hap,  which 
had  been  his  ostensible  reason  for  entering  the 
tomb. 

Unis  once  again  took  mallet  in  hand.  He 
carefully  and  methodically  examined  both  walls 
and  floor. 

He  dared  not  rap  upon  the  False  Door. 
Behind  it  slept  Amenhotep's  living  self,  as 
represented  by  his  statue. 

Unis  had  far  more  terror  of  that  enchanted 
wooden  portrait  of  the  dead  man  than  he  had 
of  the  body,1  the  shell,  of  Amenhotep  itself. 

Alas,  all  his  efforts  were  in  vain.  The  Book 
of  Books  was  not  in  the  tomb. 

Bitterly  disappointed,  Unis  stooped  to  pick 
up  his  flickering  lamp.  As  he  did  so  his  eyes  fell 
upon  a  gleaming  object  which  was  almost  hidden 
in  the  sand  at  his  feet.  Mechanically  he  picked 
it  up  and  glanced  at  the  blue  and  green  inlays. 
The  ta£-emblem  and  solar-disc  upon  its  gold 
base  showed  it  to  be  the  scarab-ring  of  Amen 
hotep,  son  of  Hap. 

From  that  date,  Unis  spent  all  the  daylight 


134       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

hours  among  the  tombs  of  the  Theban  cemetery. 
He  systematically  covered  every  foot  of  the  hill 
side,  entering  both  the  ancient  tombs,  and  the 
modern,  as  far  as  he  was  allowed.  At  night  he 
delved  among  the  ancient  scrolls  of  the  library 
of  Amen. 

Each  night  upon  his  return  he  had  been  met 
by  the  impatient  Enana.  Every  night,  week  in, 
week  out,  he  had  perforce  to  shake  his  head,  to 
spread  his  scratched  and  often  bleeding  hands 
deprecatingly. 

Of  late  Unis '  step  had  lost  its  elasticity.  An 
unnatural  brightness  glistened  in  his  sunken 
eyes.  To-night,  especially,  Enana 9s  mind  had 
been  filled  with  anxiety  for  his  safety. 

Unis  should  have  rounded  the  point  by  the 
tamarisk  grove  hours  ago.  Enana 's  anxiety 
was  not  for  Unis.  His  one  thought  was  of  the 
Book.  The  Book  he  must  have,  if  he  would  put 
his  present  plans  into  effect. 

Had  the  young  priest  but  known  it,  he  was 
the  third  person  sacrificed  by  Enana,  the  Magi 
cian,  to  the  finding  of  the  Book. 

As  Enana  turned  to  enter  the  low  doorway 


The  Luminous  Book          135 

of  the  tomb  in  which  Unis  had  recently  taken 
up  his  quarters,  an  unusual  light  in  the  valley 
below  caught  his  attention.  He  paused.  At 
the  foot  of  the  steep  incline,  at  the  upper 
reaches  of  which  he  stood,  moved  an  unnatural 
pinkish  flame.  It  seemed  to  palpitate,  to  wax 
and  wane  as  it  moved,  for  move  it  did. 

Nearer,  ever  nearer,  it  came,  constantly  grow 
ing  larger  and  brighter,  until  suddenly  by  its 
light  Enana  recognized  the  pallid  face  of  Unis, 
his  assistant. 

As  Unis  came  towards  him  the  overjoyed 
Enana  noticed  that  his  long  thin  arms  were  held 
straight  out  before  him,  that  there,  upon  his  up 
turned  palms  lay — the  Luminous  Book! 

It  needed  no  word  of  Unis  to  tell  him  what  it 
was.  The  light  that  glowed  about  its  pure  white 
leather  cover  proved  it  the  Book  of  Books. 

The  overjoyed  Magician  advanced  toward  the 
young  priest,  but  suddenly  halted,  as  he  caught 
the  horrible  expression  which  distorted  the  lat 
ter  's  livid  face.  It  was  as  if  Unis  was  being 
compelled  against  his  will  to  hold  the  Book. 

Unis'  eyes  were  open,  but  they  did  not  seem 


136       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

to  see.  His  feet  carried  him  along,  whither  he 
seemed  not  to  care.  Foam  flecked  his  black 
ened  lips ;  beads  of  perspiration  stood  out  upon 
his  forehead. 

Gazing  straight  before  him,  slowly  Unis  ad 
vanced.  Hesitating  for  a  bare  second  at  the 
threshold  of  the  doorway — one  might  have  sup 
posed  that  he  was  unfamiliar  with  it  —  he 
slowly  entered  the  chamber,  set  the  Book  care 
fully  down  upon  a  cedar  table  near  the  upper 
wall,  turned  and  left  as  silently  as  he  had  en 
tered. 

The  room,  which  had  formerly  been  in  total 
darkness,  was  now  illumined  as  though  by  a 
temple  lamp.  For  a  moment  Unis  paused, 
turned  his  unseeing  eyes  full  upon  his  master, 
the  next  he  had  vanished  behind  a  great  stone 
stela  which  stood  beside  the  ancient  tomb  which 
had  been  his  dwelling  place. 

Far  better  it  had  been  for  Unis  had  he  con 
tinued  to  fear  the  pursuing  fury  of  the  lea-statue 
of  the  son  of  Hap ! 

Alas  for  Unis!    Searching  one  day  through 


The  Luminous  Book          137 

the  manuscripts  of  the  library  of  Hotephra, 
Great  High  Priest  of  Amen,  he  had  stumbled 
upon  the  son  of  Hap's  will.  It  lay  folded  in 
the  High  Priest's  copy  of  the  temple  ritual.  The 
secret  hiding-place  of  the  Book  wac  thus  re 
vealed  to  him. 


CHAPTER  X 

PHABAOH  SEEKS  TO  EXALT  A  FOREIGN  GOD 

PHARAOH  stirred. 
At  once  two  ebony  black  Nubians  recom 
menced  to  wave  their  ostrich-feather  fans 
above  his  restless  head. 

Again  did  Shamash,  an  Asiatic  eunuch,  hold 
to  his  master's  nose  a  small  glass  phial  of  som- 
nific  poppy-oil. 

Once  again  did  Bekit,  his  little  daughter, 
chafe  with  fragrant  sandal  oil  his  fleshless 
ankles. 

All  in  vain !    Pharaoh's  frame  failed  to  relax. 

Suddenly,  with  an  impatient  gesture,  Pharaoh 
pushed  aside  the  ivory  head-rest  and  summoned 
Dedu,  Keeper  of  the  Royal  Linen. 

The  rebuffed,  but  smiling  Bekit,  held  to  her 
father's  lips  a  blue  glazed  goblet  filled  to  its 
lotif  onn  brim  with  sparkling  Thinite  wine.  As 
he  drank,  the  swaying  forms  of  Ata  and  Mai, 


Pharaoh  Exalts  a  Foreign  God  139 

youngest  of  the  court  dancers,  rose  from  the 
floor  beyond  him.  Barely  had  they  assumed  a 
single  graceful  posture  before  the  gold  seal-ring 
upon  Pharaoh's  hand  flashed  in  the  semi-gloom. 
He  waved  them  impatiently  aside. 

Entering  softly,  Dedu,  Keeper  of  the  Royal 
Linen,  carefully  drew  back  the  curtains  from 
the  windows.  These  green  byssus  draperies 
had  served  to  keep  out  the  brilliant  rays  of  the 
sun,  as  reflected  from  Queen  Thi's  "pleasure 
lake,"  on  the  northern  shore  of  which  Perao,  the 
royal  palace,  stood. 

Thus,  one  might  admire  the  charming  decora 
tion  of  the  room,  with  its  green  tiled  walls,  its 
cedar  columns,  its  elaborately  designed  ceiling, 
and  its  painted  stucco  floor  covered  with  pow 
dered  lazuli  and  gold  dust. 

In  answer  to  a  hasty  motion  on  the  part  of 
his  silent  master,  Dedu  commenced  to  bind  him 
in  the  long,  flaring-skirted  gala  robes  of  the 
day,  things  of  wonder  for  the  seemingly  in 
numerable  ramifications  of  their  softly  rippling 
white  pleats.  A  gem-encrusted  belt  of  ruddy 


140       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

Nubian  gold  was  clasped  about  his  slender 
waist,  a  girdle  broad  in  the  back  and  tapering 
towards  the  front,  where  a  fiercely  charging 
oryx,  carved  from  a  solid  block  of  Babylonian 
lazuli,  served  to  conceal  the  mechanism  of  the 
clasp.  The  restless  monarch's  feet  were  bound 
in  soft  gazelle-hide  sandals,  sandals  dyed  a 
rich  rose-pink,  gilded  and  turned  up  at  the  toe. 
Over  a  padded  linen  skull-cap  was  set  the  royal 
warbonnet,  a  magnificent  dome-shaped  head 
dress  of  a  brilliant  sky  blue.  From  the  center 
of  this  regal  head-covering,  and  immediately 
above  the  monarch's  low  and  unnaturally  re 
treating  forehead,  the  red  jasper  eyes  of  two 
golden  asps  glittered  like  spots  of  hidden  fire, 
as  they  quivered  upon  flexible  wires  with  every 
movement  of  the  impatient  monarch. 

In  public,  the  vain  and  indolent  monarchs 
who  had  followed  Thothmes,  Conqueror  of  Asia, 
had  ever  affected  the  Warbonnet  above  all  other 
headdresses.  At  sight  of  its  bright  blue  inlays 
the  discreet  and  sycophantic  courtiers  invari 
ably  burst  into  vociferous  applause;  the  sol- 


Pharaoh  Exalts  a  Foreign  God  141 

diers,  with  howls  of  delight,  broke  into  stirring 
war-dances.  With  the  people  at  large  it  was 
hailed  with  delight.  To  them  it  symbolized  Im 
perial  Egypt,  an  Egypt  to  which  tribute  arrived 
from  Nubia  to  the  ''great  bend"  of  the  distant 
Euphrates.  Thus,  policy  had  dictated  the 
Linen  Keeper's  choice,  for  the  fiction  of  Pha 
raoh  as  world-conqueror  must  be  maintained. 

Deftly  the  fawning  Dedu  encircled  Pharaoh's 
emaciated  arms  and  wrists  with  jeweled  bands, 
his  hollow  chest  with  the  wesekJi,  a  broad,  flat 
band  of  jewels  composed  of  alternate  strands  of 
van-colored  stones.  The  tender  green  of 
Nubian  emerald,  the  soft  rose  of  native  car- 
nelian,  the  violet  or  rich  purple  of  Asiatic 
amethyst  and  the  several  red  tones  of  trans 
lucent  sard  and  banded  agate,  were  intensified 
as  much  by  Pharaoh's  swarthy  countenance  as 
by  the  pure  white  linen  tunic  over  which  they 
were  spread. 

Finally,  the  scepter  of  gold,  banded  with  deep 
red  sardonyx,  was  placed  in  Pharaoh's  ner 
vously  twitching  hand,  and  Akhten-aton,  "Ter- 


142       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

TOT  of  Asia/'  shuffled  to  the  door,  where  his 
ivory  carrying-chair,  his  sixteen  priestly  bear 
ers,  his  sun-shade  and  fan-bearers,  and  his  pet 
lion,  awaited  him. 

With  the  inevitable  prayer  for  "health  and 
long  life"  upon  their  lips,  one  and  all  saluted 
the  god-king  by  raising  their  right  hands  and 
crooking  their  lean  backs  in  the  obsequious 
Syrian  mode,  but  recently  introduced. 

In  the  columned  forecourt  of  the  Great  Hall, 
the  stentorian  voice  of  the  Court  Herald 
warned  of  Pharaoh's  approach  and  Akhten- 
aton,  Son  of  the  Sun-god,  Lord  of  the  Two 
Lands,  Ruler  of  Rulers,  Bull  that  Goreth  Bulls, 
gave  the  looked-for  signal  that  should  start  the 
forward  movement  of  that  great  procession 
which  would  usher  him  into  the  Double  Audi 
ence  Hall  with  all  the  dignity  of  a  ruler,  whose 
sway,  nominally  at  least,  extended  from  the 
further  confines  of  Nubia  to  the  Great  Eiver  of 
Mitanni. 

Soon,  no  one  but  Wozer,  Keeper  of  the  Gates, 
his  spear-men  and  the  cooks  and  butlers,  re- 


Pharaoh  Exalts  a  Foreign  God  143 

mained  within  the  palace  walls.  It  was  with  a 
sigh  of  satisfaction  that  Wozer  heard  the  ever- 
receding  tones  of  the  chanting  prophets  and 
priestesses  of  the  temple  who  headed  the  pro 
cession. 

'As  Ptah  the  Cellarer  rolled  heavily  by,  Wozer 
made  a  gesture  expressive  at  once  of  thirst  and 
a  good  game.  Thereafter,  Ptah  and  he  forgot, 
for  a  time,  that  there  was  a  gate  to  watch  or 
fragrant  jars  of  wine  to  seal.  Skull-cap  to 
headcloth,  both  lost  themselves  in  a  high-staked 
game  of  draughts ! 

The  Great  Double  Hall  to  which  Pharaoh  had 
been  conducted  consisted  of  a  long,  high  nave. 
On  either  side  this  gigantic  lotus-columned  nave 
stood  smaller  aisles.  Both  nave  and  aisles  were 
bathed  in  the  subdued  light  which  filtered 
through  pierced  alabaster  gratings. 

The  dimly  seen  roof  was  composed  of  huge 
flat  slabs  of  sandstone  painted  blue,  and  dotted 
with  myriads  of  little  gold  stars.  The  bulging 
shafts  of  the  columns  which  supported  it — 
gigantic  pillars  covered  from  capital  to  base 


144       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

with  brilliantly  colored  representations  of 
Egypt's  host  of  deities — glowed  in  the  shim 
mering  light  with  a  thousand  prismatic  colors. 
The  floor  was  of  beaten  gold,  its  high  walls  a 
glitter  of  yellow  tiles  inlaid  with  varicolored 
paste  hieroglyphs.  These  seemingly  unending 
lines  of  inscription  extolled  the  late  Pharaoh  for 
gifts  which  he  had  given,  perforce,  to  the  tem 
ples,  or  lauded  him  for  certain  imaginary  deeds 
of  prowess  performed  in  unknown  campaigns 
in  Nubia  and  Asia. 

At  the  upper  end  of  the  hall,  raised  upon  a 
low  dais,  stood  the  throne  of  Egypt,  the 
"  golden  throne  of  Horus."  As  was  fitting,  its 
curved  arms  were  supported  by  the  bent  backs 
of  pinioned  Nubians  and  Asiatics. 

To  the  right,  and  immediately  overlooking  the 
royal  dais,  was  a  balcony  reserved  for  Nof erith, 
the  Queen;  for  Thi,  the  all-powerful  Queen- 
Mother,  and  for  a  few  favored  ladies  of  their 
suites.  This  balcony,  at  the  moment,  was  hung 
with  rich  embroideries. 

In  front  of  Pharaoh's  throne  stood  painted 


Pharaoh  Exalts  a  Foreign  God  145 

cedar  vase-stands,  from  whose  blue-glazed  jars 
drooped  sprays  of  feathery  acacia,  sweet- 
scented  mimosa  and  nodding  papyrus.  To  the 
left,  high  upon  a  lotus-festooned  stand,  stood  a 
huge  oryx-handled  bowl  of  solid  gold,  part  of 
the  Asiatic  spoil  of  Pharaoh's  warlike  ancestor 
Thothmes,  the  conqueror  of  Asia.  From  its 
fitfully  glowing  interior  rose  a  thin  blue  line  of 
aromatic  incense,  which  broke  and  spread  in 
gray,  semi-transparent  rings  as  it  touched  the 
gold  stars  which  dimly  flashed  amidst  the  deep 
blue  of  its  lofty  ceiling. 

The  herald's  announcement  of  the  approach 
of  Pharaoh  stopped  for  a  moment  the  sibilant 
whispers  of  the  ladies,  as  the  court  nobles,  a 
line  of  white-robed  figures,  ranged  themselves 
about  the  dais  in  order  of  precedence.  Soon 
after,  to  the  acclaiming  shouts  of  the  multitude, 
Akhten-aton,  himself,  appeared.  Assisted  by 
Shamash  and  the  ever-attentive  Dedu,  Pharaoh 
slowly  seated  himself  upon  the  throne  of  his 
ancestors. 

Following  a  motion  from  his  long  thin  hand, 


146       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

an  usher  threw  wide  the  cedar  doors  at  the  end 
of  the  hall  and,  standing  upon  its  granite 
threshold,  cried  to  the  vast  concourse  of  restless 
figures  now  visible  in  the  court : 

1 1  Long  live  Pharaoh,  our  Lord ! 

1 '  Millions  of  millions  of  years  to  him,  even  so 
long  as  the  sun  endureth ! ' ' 

With  a  roar  the  accustomed  royal  salutation 
was  taken  up : 

"Life,  health,  abundance  and  fullness  of  joy 
be  to  Pharaoh,  our  Lord,  forever  and  forever!" 

The  crowd  of  petty  nobles,  counts,  monarchs 
and  captains  now  pressed  forward.  With  heads 
bent,  spines  arched,  right  hands  raised,  slowly 
and  reverently  they  ranged  themselves  about 
the  lower  end  of  the  hall.  Were  it  possible,  the 
forms  of  these  white-robed  newcomers  flashed 
with  the  glitter  of  well-nigh  as  many  jewels  and 
gold  or  silver  orders  as  did  those  of  the  more 
exalted  nobles  gathered  about  Pharaoh's 
throne. 

Those  who  were  unable,  for  lack  of  space,  to 
gain  access  to  the  hall,  had  perforce,  to  stand 


Pharaoh  Exalts  a  Foreign  God  147 

outside  in  the  unprotected  court  and  exposed  to 
the  blinding  shafts  of  the  vaulting  sun. 
Yet,  few  complained,  so  momentous  was  the 
step  now  contemplated  by  the  fanatical  young 
Pharaoh. 

Anticipation  and,  it  may  well  have  been  fear 
of  the  result,  explained  the  unusual  sternness 
of  expression  visible  upon  the  faces  of  all  pres 
ent,  a  tension  seldom  seen  upon  the  faces  of  this 
pleasure-loving  people. 

For  weeks  past  the  Theban  capital,  nay, 
Egypt  itself,  had  been  a  seething  maelstrom  of 
riotous  priests,  mutinous  soldiery,  and  pit- 
eously  clamorous  slaves  and  petty  farmers. 

With  the  speed  of  a  hungry  jackal  the  news 
had  spread  that  Pharaoh  had  at  last  determined 
upon  the  final  break  with  the  priests  of  Amen  in 
Karnak. 

Pharaoh's  keen  interest  in  the  Syrian  cult  of 
Thi,  his  mother,  was  well  known.  The  new  Sun 
cult  already  had  a  certain  following,  at  least 
among  the  nobles  of  the  court.  At  this  very 
moment  many  members  of  the  nobility  had 


148        Hank:  the  Enchantress 

recently  bound  themselves  to  support  their 
royal  master  in  the  revolutionary  step  he  now 
contemplated. 

It  is  true  that  the  more  exalted  members  of 
Pharaoh's  court  still  continued  their  visits  to 
the  great  temple  of  Amen  in  Karnak.  But  the 
nasal  intonation  of  Ameni,  the  ibis-nosed  lector, 
had  of  late  merely  served  to  amuse  them.  As  to 
Pharaoh,  himself,  the  over-powering  reek  of 
incense,  flowers,  fresh-baked  bread,  and  blood, 
did  but  sicken  him.  The  glitter  in  the  silver  eyes 
of  a  host  of  granite  statues,  ancestors  of  his, 
&a-figures  of  a  long  line  of  loyal  and  devout  fol 
lowers  of  Amen,  both  unnerved  and  repelled  him. 

From  his  golden  throne  Pharaoh's  prominent 
eyes  swept  the  oil-coned  heads  of  his  subjects. 
One  and  all  were  dressed,  be- jeweled  and 
anointed  as  for  a  gala  day.  Their  loyal  shouts 
of  welcome  had  warmed  his  heart.  At  the  same 
time,  their  enthusiasm  seemed  to  give  him  the 
necessary  strength  for  his  momentous  task. 

No  sooner  was  he  seated,  and  the  jeweled 
scepter  placed  upon  a  stand  at  his  side,  than  the 


Pharaoh  Exalts  a  Foreign  God  149 

nobles  on  his  right,  ever  the  most  exalted, 
pressed  about  him.  Some  prostrated  themselves 
before  him ;  some  kissed  the  pointed  tip  of  his 
gilded  sandal,  while  others,  in  this  case  the  aged 
members  of  his  court  or  blood  relations,  em 
braced  the  pleated  skirt  that  tightly  bound  his 
knees. 

Suddenly  Pharaoh  signaled  that  he  would 
hear  no  more,  and  immediately,  with  a  wave  of 
his  scepter,  rose  to  his  feet. 

At  once,  as  if  by  magic,  whisperings  ceased. 
No  one  so  much  as  breathed.  Such  a  hush  fell 
upon  that  crowded  hall  that  one  could  hear 
without  the  shrill  cries  of  the  quarrelsome 
hawks,  that  flew  in  circles  back  and  forth  from 
the  eaves  of  the  roof. 

As  one,  that  vast  audience  sank  to  its  knees. 
As  one,  it  broke  into  the  stirring  shout  of  wel 
come: 

'  *  Hail,  Life-giver !  Hail,  Electrum  of  Kings ! 
Hail,  Thou  who  art  the  very  breath  of  our  nos 
trils  !  Life,  health  and  peace  be  thine,  so  long  as 
Ra  endures ! ' ' 


150       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

Then  again  the  same  expectant  hush  fell  upon 
that  shimmering  hall.  Pharaoh  raised  his  hand. 
His  soft,  but  resonant  voice  filled  the  long  hall : 

"My  children!  We  have  summoned  you  be 
fore  us  that  you  may  hear  the  words  of  Pha 
raoh,  which  change  not!  For  centuries  past 
hath  Egypt  been  a  jest  in  the  mouths  of 
strangers  who  cried : 

"These  be  the  sons  of  the  Egyptians  that 
have  raised  to  themselves  more  gods  than  they 
have  days  in  which  to  worship  them.'  Had  we 
not  been  hindered  by  the  priests  of  Amen  yon 
der,  long  ago,  yea,  even  in  our  fathers '  time,  this 
reproach  had  been  removed  from  amongst  us! 
Henceforth,  my  children,  cease  to  cry  upon  the 
Triads;  upon  Amen,  Mut,  and  Khonsu;  upon 
Horus,  Set  and  Ausar! 

"As  you  all  know,  the  gods  of  Thebes,  of  On, 
of  white-walled  Memphis,  are  but  attributes  of 
the  one  beneficent  sun-god,  of  Aton  the  Glori 
ous,  the  Life-giver,  who  dwelleth  within  the 
Sun! 

"Henceforth,  let  Aton,  not  Amen,  be  upon 


Pharaoh  Exalts  a  Foreign  God  151 

your  lips !  Let  Aton,  not  Amen,  be  upon  the  lips 
of  your  children !  Thus,  as  in  times  past,  Egypt 
shall  worship  one  god  from  Nubia  to  Suan  of 
the  North.  May  Aton's  bright  beams  embrace 
you !  May  Aton 's  rays  forever  enfold  you ! '  * 

Across  the  flashing  waters  of  the  Nile,  where 
the  great  temple  of  Karnak  raised  its  giant 
pylons  high  above  the  palm  groves  which 
fronted  it,  Huy,  Great  High  Priest  of  Amen, 
frowned  darkly  as  the  sound  of  the  loud  ap 
plause  which  followed  Pharaoh 's  speech, 
reached  his  ears. 

To  Huy  and  the  prophets  of  Amen  that  sound 
heralded  the  beginning  of  a  war  to  the  death. 

But  Enana,  the  Magician,  did  but  smile. 


CHAPTER  XI 

THE  STATUE  OF  AMEN  DISAPPEARS 

IN  Thebes  a  religious  drama  was  enacted 
annually,  a  drama  in  which  was  portrayed 
the  eternal  conflict  waged  between  Amen, 
the  sun-god,  and  Apep,  Prince  of  Darkness. 

Unknown  to  the  peasant,  as  indeed  to  many 
a  priestly  participant,  the  story  of  the  drama,  in 
truth,  perpetuated  the  prehistoric  invasion  of 
Egypt  by  those  "Followers  of  Horus"  who  had 
subdued,  and,  eventually,  become  absorbed  by 
the  original  inhabitants  of  the  Nile  Valley. 

At  that  early  date,  Thebes  had  been  but  a 
small  village,  a  cluster  of  mud  huts  and  a  small 
shrine,  over  whose  walls  rose  the  emblem  of  the 
primitive  cult. 

Since  that  time,  three  thousand  years  had 
come  and  gone,  and  Thebes  had  become  the 
richest  and  most  powerful  city  of  the  ancient 
world. 

152 


The  Statue  of  Amen  Disappears  153 

Now,  since  Horus,  son  of  Hathor,  was  the 
leader  of  the  victorious  invaders,  and  the  two 
great  battles  had  taken  place  at  Nekhen  and 
Abdu — Thebes  being  entirely  outside  the  field 
of  operations — the  various  incidents  enacted  in 
this  great  religious  spectacle  had  nothing  what 
ever  to  do  with  Thebes  nor,  indeed,  with  its 
famed  local  deity,  the  sun-god  Amen. 

But  the  priests  of  Amen's  great  temple  at 
Thebes  had  always  looked  with  envy  at  the 
popularity  of  the  yearly  spectacle  as  enacted  in 
the  two  rival  cities.  Thus,  when  finally  a  The- 
ban  prince  became  Pharaoh,  the  first  care  of  the 
Chief  Prophet  of  Amen  had  been  to  get  the 
royal  seal  affixed  to  a  permit  looking  toward  the 
perpetual  endowment  of  a  similar  festival  in  his 
own  city  of  Thebes,  a  six  days'  wonder  that 
should  utterly  eclipse  anything  of  which 
Nekhen,  Abdu  or  any  other  rival  god  or  city 
could  boast. 

In  the  drama  as  presented  at  Thebes,  the  son 
of  Hathor  became  the  sun-god  Amen  of  Thebes. 


154       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

The  " Followers  of  Horns"  were  personified  by 
Theban  priests,  local  notables  and  others. 

As  to  the  ' l  Followers  of  Set, ' '  the  enemies  in 
.the  drama,  such  miscreants  were  portrayed  by 
unhappy  foreign  slaves,  criminals  and  the  like, 
many  of  whom  were  sacrificed  before  the  altar 
of  the  sun-god,  following  the  conclusion  of  the 
customary  mimic  battle  and  mock  attempt  to 
carry  off  the  holy  statue  of  Amen. 

The  great  Theban  festival  called  for  a  full 
week  of  continued  merrymaking.  Military 
tournaments  were  instituted,  athletic  contests 
took  place;  boat  races  were  a  daily  occurrence 
along  the  river  front.  In  the  palace  magical 
contests  were  held,  the  wisdom  of  ancient  sages 
was  discussed,  or  great  prophets  of  the  day 
were  brought  before  Pharaoh's  throne. 

In  the  latter  case  Pharaoh  heard,  at  first  hand, 
of  the  marvelous  deeds  of  magic  under  the  an 
cestors  of  the  Pyramid  Age,  or  was  admonished 
to  give  more  thought  to  his  oppressed  and  hun 
gry  people. 

One  stalwart  hermit  had  had  the  temerity  to 


The  Statue  of  Amen  Disappears  155 

prophesy  the  overthrow  of  Pharaoh  and  the 
coming  of  "a  righteous  king,"  under  whom 
Egypt  would  return  to  the  blissful  state  of  long 
ago,  "before  death  was,"  and  mankind,  both 
native  and  foreign,  would  become  united  in  an 
international  brotherhood  which  would  make 
one  the  lands  of  men  and  the  Blessed  Fields  of 
Aaru,  the  abode  of  the  gods ! 

The  rash  prophet  was  not  handed  to  the 
strangler,  but  led  courteously  from  the  Pres 
ence.  An  order  for  a  tomb,  a  fine  limestone 
coffin,  and  a  tomb-statue,  followed  him  to  his 
distant  home.  During  the  Feast  of  the  Apts, 
one  might  speak  one's  true  mind,  even  before 
Majesty. 

To-day,  the  day  of  "bringing  in  the  god," 
crowds  jostled  and  pushed  along  every  Theban 
lane  and  alley.  Everyone  sought  the  Avenue  of 
Sphinxes,  or  the  Eiver  Road.  The  latter  route, 
which  extended  from  the  main  pylon  of  the 
Temple  to  the  Sacred  Quay,  was  policed  along 
its  short  extent  by  a  double  line  of  foreign 
spearmen. 


156       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

The  two-horse  chariot  of  the  chief  of  these 
mercenaries  dashed  madly  up  the  well  guarded 
course,  turned  and  disappeared  down  the  long 
Avenue  of  Sphinxes  which  led  to  the  Southern 
Temple.  The  Chief  would  take  one  last  survey 
of  the  flower-strewn  route  before  the  "Appear 
ance  of  the  sun-god "  should  commence. 

The  gold  statue  of  Amen  the  Hidden  One, 
would  presently  be  taken  from  the  Holy  of 
Holies  in  the  dim  shrine  of  the  Northern  Apt, 
and  escorted  up-stream  on  the  Sacred  Barge  to 
the  jeweled  sanctuary  of  the  Temple  of  the 
Southern  Apt. 

Before  the  open  cedar  doors  of  the  temple 
Pharaoh  himself  might  be  seen  upon  his  port 
able  throne  of  gold  and  ivory,  high  above  the 
shoulders  of  twenty-four  priestly  bearers.  As 
usual,  his  tame  lion  stood  upon  the  dais  at  its 
royal  master's  side. 

The  grand  procession  now  moved  forward. 
It  was  headed  by  a  priest,  who  solemnly  burned 
incense  in  a  long  hawk-headed  bronze  censer. 
All  about  him  musicians  played  and  women-of- 


The  Statue  of  Amen  Disappears  157 

the-temple,  women  playing  to  the  mystical 
harem  of  the  god,  sang  the  adorations  to  the 
sun-god.  Two  other  groups  marked  time  by 
clapping  of  hands  and  playing  of  ivory  cas 
tanets. 

Immediately  in  front  of  the  king's  throne 
marched  serried  ranks  of  kilted  Egyptian  sol 
diers,  singing  as  they  went.  Their  raw-hide 
shields  moved  across  their  naked  breasts  in  time 
with  the  music.  At  the  close  of  each  verse  they 
lifted  their  short  spears  or  axes  above  their 
heads  and  shouted  a  short  but  resounding: 
"Hai!  Amen!  Ya — hai!  Amen!" 

Soon  the  long  lines  of  onlookers  had  taken  up 
the  refrain,  and  the  limpid  air  of  the  Capital 
thrilled  to  the  wild  cries  of  "Hai!  Amen!  Ya 
— hai!  Amen!"  As  the  gold  throne  of  the 
Monarch  advanced,  groups  of  white-robed 
nobles  fell  into  line  behind  it. 

Then  followed  a  long  line  of  women  from  the 
Temples  of  Amen,  Mut  and  Khonsu,  who 
marked  the  time  of  the  hymn  of  praise  by  shak 
ing  golden  sistra  and  rattling  menats,  short 


158       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

but  thick  necklaces  of  beryl,  amethyst  and  car- 
nelian  beads.  With  much  beating  of  drums  and 
clicking  of  castanets  a  group  of  feathered 
negroes  pressed  close  after  the  singers. 

There  followed  another  long  line  of  soldiers, 
Egyptian,  Asiatic,  Nubian,  Libyan,  and,  finally, 
a  little  group  of  Cretans,  remarkable  not  so 
much  for  the  breadth  of  their  shoulders  as  for 
the  slimness  of  their  waists,  "hornet  waisted" 
they  had  been  nicknamed  by  the  Thebans.  These 
latter  were  almost  lost  behind  their  enormous 
ox-hide  shields. 

Each  group  carried  its  own  special  type  of 
weapon,  since  there  were  definite  regiments  of 
archers,  axemen,  spearmen  and  slingers,  and 
each  company  was  headed  by  its  own  device  or 
standard  bearer. 

At  last  the  heavy  bronze  doors  of  the  Temple 
of  Amen  slowly  opened  and  a  seemingly  unend 
ing  line  of  white-robed  priests  issued  from  the 
deep  shadows  of  the  stupendous  pylons. 

High  upon  their  gleaming  shoulders  rested 
portable  barques  containing  the  various  sacred 


The  Statue  of  Amen  Disappears  159 

deities  belonging  to  the  various  temples  which 
were  well-nigh  hidden  by  the  lofty  enclosure 
walls.  Certain  priests  offered  incense  to  these 
gods,  at  intervals,  along  the  whole  extent  of  the 
route. 

In  the  midst  of  one  group  might  be  seen  a 
number  of  spirited  bulls,  with  horns  decorated 
in  gold.  Great  yokes  of  flowers  and  sweet- 
smelling  leaves  were  hung  about  their  throats. 

Trailing  out  behind  these  last  followed  a  long 
line  of  priests  carrying  the  standards  of  the 
gods,  since  the  whole  company  of  the  Blessed 
Gods  marched,  unseen,  in  this  great  procession. 

A  renewed  wave  of  cheering  went  up  as  the 
linen-draped  shrine  of  Amen  appeared.  A 
vacant  place  was  kept  clear  behind  it,  in  which 
marched  the  * '  souls ' '  of  dead  kings !  Thirty-six 
tall  priests  carried  this  Holy  of  Holies  towards 
a  gleaming  barge,  moored  to  the  water's  edge 
at  the  Sacred  Quay.  Over  two  hundred  feet 
long,  this  barge  was  built  throughout  its  entire 
extent  of  cedar  from  the  Lebanus  Terraces.  Its 
sides  were  covered  to  the  water's  edge  with 


160       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

pure  Nubian  gold.  Enormous  necklaces  of  gold 
were  hung  at  prow  and  stern.  The  ' '  Two  eyes 
of  Horus, ' '  at  the  prow,  were  inlaid  in  brilliant 
blue  lazuli  from  Babylon.  The  great  checkered 
linen  sail,  which  lay  furled  upon  the  silver  deck, 
was  of  the  square  Egyptian  type.  It  was  dec 
orated  with  squares  of  red  and  blue  embroidery. 

There  was  now  as  much  noise  and  excitement 
on  the  river  as  on  shore.  The  captains  of  fifty 
great  painted  barges  awaited  the  signal  to  pull 
up  their  mooring-stakes  as  soon  as  the  Sacred 
Barge  should  be  well  under  way.  Were  it  pos- 
,sible,  the  startled  air  trembled  to  still  louder 
shouts  as  excited  overseers,  taskmasters  and 
men  commenced  to  pull  at  the  great  towing 
ropes.  The  swift  Nile  current  made  it  neces 
sary  that  the  barge  be  dragged  up-stream  by  a 
whole  army  of  young  and  lusty  Egyptians. 

Along  the  line  of  route  people  began  to  dis 
appear  from  the  gayly  decorated  windows.  The 
last  scene  of  the  day's  ceremony  was  about  to 
take  place  within  the  still  unfinished  forecourt 
of  the  Southern  Temple  of  Amen. 


The  Statue  of  Amen  Disappears  161 

Carrying-chairs  were  frantically  demanded, 
but  soon  abandoned,  as  who  could  make  head 
way  in  that  fashion  in  the  midst  of  such  a 
crowd?  A  few  fortunate  people  managed  to 
squeeze  through  the  broad  square  lined  with  its 
rows  of  booths,  where  slaves  were  hastily  pre 
paring  wine,  fruit,  flowers  and  incense  or  cut 
ting  up  the  unfortunate  bulls  as  part  of  the 
" beautiful  festival  of  the  Apt." 

Pharaoh  offered  incense  to  his  father  Amen 
as  four  exalted  members  of  the  priesthood 
poured  out  wine  from  festooned  jars  of  painted 
pottery.  With  the  exception  of  these  four 
noblemen,  high  initiates  of  the  Sorcerers  of 
Amen  and  Huy,  the  Great  High  Priest,  no  one 
could  witness  the  taking  of  the  image  of  Amen 
from  its  jeweled  shrine  and  its  transference  to 
the  silver  tabernacle  within  the  granite  naos 
which  stood,  beside  "the  position  which  the 
king  takes,"  deep  within  the  gloom  of  the  upper 
temple. 

Pharaoh  himself,  though  the  personification 
of  Amen,  dare  not  venture  beyond  that  fixed 


1 62        Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

" position/*  a  spot  marked  by  a  huge  block  of 
turquoise  from  the  Sinaitic  mines,  set  in  the 
richly  painted  wall  of  the  upper  temple. 

Around  the  great  forecourt,  the  nobles  knelt 
or  stood,  according  as  they  belonged  to  the  two 
rival  factions  of  Amen  or  Aton. 

To  the  latter  group,  this  marked  what  was  no 
doubt  the  very  last  procession  of  its  kind.  Hence 
these  adherents  of  Aton,  the  Syrian  God,  stood 
stiffly  in  the  background.  A  covert  smile  might 
have  been  noted  on  many  a  swarthy  face  among 
them. 

Pharaoh's  expression  was  one  of  cold  in 
difference. 

Throughout  the  whole  scene  the  apathetic 
monarch  seemed  not  to  be  conscious  of  where 
he  was  or  of  what  he  was  doing.  It  is  true,  he 
successfully  finished  each  and  every  detail  of 
the  exacting  ritual  of  Amen.  But,  what  he  did, 
he  did  mechanically. 

The  last  mock-reverence  finished,  Pharaoh 
retired. 


The  Statue  of  Amen  Disappears  163 

As  his  throne  was  borne  swiftly  toward  the 
royal  barge,  his  mask  of  impassibility  vanished. 
He  sank  back  and  allowed  his  gaze  to  travel 
from  one  side  to  the  other.  There  was  an  air 
of  expectancy  in  each  turn  of  his  head.  He  even 
went  so  far  as  to  bow  to  the  acclamations  of 
his  people,  and  this  not  a  little. to  their  bewilder 
ment,  since  Pharaohs,  in  public,  were  custom 
arily,  at  best,  but  breathing  statues. 

Scarcely  had  the  king  set  foot  upon  the  deck 
of  his  beautiful  barge,  "Star  of  the  Gods," 
when  a  frightful  tumult  broke  out  along  the 
bank,  immediately  fronting  the  great  barge  of 
Amen.  Wild  shrieks  from  the  women-of-the- 
temple,  hoarse  and  angry  cries  from  the  men, 
intermingled  with  mocking  laughter  and  shouts 
of  derision. 

A  great  crowd  of  angry  priests  of  Amen 
might  be  seen  pushing  their  way  through  the 
dense  crowd  which  was  massed  in  front  of  the 
giant  statues  of  Thothmes,  whose  temple  stood 
near  by.  Frantic  attempts  were  being  made  by 


164       Hank:  the  Enchantress 

the  priests  of  Amen  to  burst  through  this  crowd. 
Yet  each  insistent  attempt  ended  in  failure,  as 
did  a  last  charge  in  one  serried  block. 

The  crowd  itself  was  by  now  so  divided  into 
factions  that  blows  were  falling  right  and  left, 
and  hapless  people  were  constantly  being 
trampled  under  foot. 

Shrieking:  "Sacrilege!  Sacrilege !"  the 
priests  turned  and  rushed  headlong  to  their 
boats. 

The  Holy  Figure  of  the  Hidden  One,  the 
sacred  Statue  of  Amen,  the  sun-god,  had  dis 
appeared. 

The  followers  of  Aton  had  scored  their  first 
success,  and  that  success  one  of  tremendous  im 
port! 


CHAPTER  XII 

ENANA  CALLS  TO  His  AID  THE  GODS  JUSTICE  AND 
VENGEANCE 

THE  nameless  horror  that  had  driven  the 
youthful  Unis  from  his  side  had  no  terrors 
for  Enana  the  Magician. 

Enana  stood  bathed  in  the  palpitating  glow 
of  the  self -illuminated  Book.  Slowly  he  ap 
proached  his  hands  to  its  cover,  a  cover  as  white 
as  the  sandals  of  the  gods  themselves. 

The  instant  Enana 's  shriveled  fingers  came  in 
contact  with  its  radiance,  a  sudden  change  came 
over  him.  Enana 's  face  glowed;  a  circle  of 
light  played  about  his  head.  His  eyes  blazed 
with  a  light  of  triumph. 

Holding  the  Magic  Book  before  him,  he  com 
menced  to  sway  back  and  forth,  back  and  forth, 
like  some  mystic  of  the  temple  about  to 
prophesy. 

The  aged  Magician  began  to  speak,  softly  at 

165 


166       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

first,  but  with  a  flow  of  words  that  scarcely 
waited  for  breath. 

"What  saith  the  son  of  Hap?  Seek  the  Book 
of  Thoth.  Eat  not,  drink  not,  sleep  not,  until 
the  Book  is  found!  Two  magic  formulaB  hath 
the  Book !  Eecite  the  first  and  thou  shalt  charm 
the  sky,  the  earth,  the  moon,  the  heights,  the 
depths!  Thou  shalt  converse  with  the  birds. 
Thou  shalt  understand  the  sayings  of  the  fish 
and  reptiles! 

"Eecite  the  second  and,  even  though  thy 
desire  be  among  the  Silent  Ones,  the  Dead, 
yet  shall  thou  have  power  to  raise  them  upon 
their  feet  in  the  forms  and  with  the  hearts  their 
mothers  gave  them. 

"By  the  Double  Spell  thou  shalt  produce  a 
Eising  of  the  Moon  at  will.  Thou  shalt  be  en 
abled  to  stop  the  Sun's  Ascension.  Yea,  thou 
shalt  darken  the  faces  of  both  Sun  and  Moon. 
By  the  Double  Spell  thou  shalt  see  the  Ascen 
sion  of  Ea  and  the  Cycle  of  the  Gods. 

"Eecited  at  the  full  of  the  Moon,  thou  shalt 
master  the  Hidden  Names  of  the  Gods,  whereby 


Enana  Seeks  the  Gods'  Aid    167 

thou  shalt  become  possessed  of  their  amulets 
and  talismans.  Yea,  thou  shalt  become  greater 
than  Ea  himself!" 

Slowly  Enana  the  Magician  opened  the  Book. 
In  characters  of  gold  the  secret  incantations 
of  the  gods  were  spread  before  him.  Here  ap 
peared  the  Secret  Names  of  the  Six  White  Gods 
of  Day  and  the  Six  Black  Gods  of  Night.  Here 
were  the  irresistible  words  of  power  that  could 
stop  the  planets  in  their  courses  and  Ra  in  his 
passage  of  the  sky.  Here  again  were  the  Mys 
tic  Names  of  Thoth  and  Set.  Here  were  the 
dread  Jiekau-spells  that  could  revivify  the  dead 
or  consign  the  living  to  annihilation  and  their 
"  doubles "  to  extinction. 

Enana  closed  the  magic  book.  Carefully  he 
placed  it  in  his  bosom.  The  soft  effulgence  at 
once  disappeared. 

Leaving  the  little  chamber,  Enana  stood  upon 
the  terrace.  Below  and  about  him  stretched  the 
city,  the  city  of  the  dead.  A  rift  of  dully  gleam 
ing  waters  and,  beyond  it,  lay  another  city, 
the  city  of  the  living. 


168       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

A  dull  roar,  a  deep  murmur,  as  of  many 
voices,  came  up  to  him  where  he  stood.  In 
honor  of  the  annual  Feast  of  the  Apts,  lights 
were  breaking  out  alike  in  temple,  palace  and 
peasant  hut. 

To-night  the  doors  would  be  left  open.  Thus 
would  the  living  welcome  the  "souls"  of  their 
dead. 

Already  lines  of  flickering  torches  showed 
where  many  a  devout  &a-servant,  together  with 
priests  to  assist  him,  could  be  seen  winding 
along  the  well-beaten  paths  or  marching  up  the 
inclined  planes  of  the  sphinx  or  tree-bordered 
avenues  by  which  the  royal  mortuary-temples 
were  approached. 

The  Feast  of  the  Apts  was  indeed,  as  it  was 
often  styled,  a  veritable  "Feast  of  Lights." 

Enana  gazed  northward.  Across  the  river,  a 
bright  circle  of  lights  showed  where  his  brother- 
priests  of  Amen  had  commenced  the  encircling 
of  the  walls  of  Amen's  temple.  Huy  and  his 
brother-priests  still  put  on  a  bold  front. 

Fires  were  lit  at  intervals  along  the  Nile  em- 


Enana  Seeks  the  Gods'  Aid    169 

bankments.  The  river  itself  now  reflected  many 
a  fire  that  leaped,  died,  and  leaped  into  life 
again,  along  the  great  quay  fronting  the  temple 
of  the  Southern  Apt. 

Nearer,  scarcely  a  stone's  throw  away,  it 
seemed,  appeared  the  lights  of  the  innumerable 
lamps  which  served  to  illuminate  the  pleasure- 
barge  of  Thi,  the  Queen-Mother.  As  Enana  well 
knew,  Pharaoh  and  his  immediate  family  were 
accustomed  to  join  the  nightly  fete  from  this 
point  of  vantage. 

Enana  raised  his  hands  in  the  direction  of  the 
broad  patch  of  buildings  and  trees  which 
marked  at  once  the  royal  palace  and  the  nearby 
villa  of  Menna,  the  Overseer. 

Suddenly  a  brilliant  meteor  shot  from  the 
highest  zenith  and  seemed  to  bury  itself  in  the 
waters  of  the  palace  lake.  Enana 's  voice  rose 
upon  the  night  air : 

An  omen,  Pharaoh!  an  omen  Thi!  an  omen  Menna! 
By  the  Power  of  the  Book,  closed  to  ye  are 
The  gates  of  the  Sky.    Closed  to  ye  are 
The  Pouble  Doors  of  Heaven  1 


170       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

Ye  shall  not  cross  the  Lily  Lake  of  the  Sky, 
Ye  shall  not  sail  upon  the  Boat  with  Ba! 
The  Magic  Vestments  shall  not  be  spread  for  ye  I 
The  White  Sandals  shall  be  hidden  from  ye! 
Yea,  by  the  Secret  Names  I  know,  by  the  ,, 

Hidden  Talismans  I  possess,  your  bodies 
Shall  be  destroyed;  your  tombs  shall  know 
Them  not!    Your  Jcas  shall  not  stand  behind  ye! 
Your  bos  shall  not  sit  upon  your  tombs! 
Annihilation  is  your  portion;  obliteration 
Your  destiny! 

Enana's  voice  rose  to  a  shrill  falsetto;  his 
whole  form  seemed  to  tremble  as  he  cried  aloud 
the  first  dread  incantation : 

Thoth!    Thoth!   Thoth! 

Come  to  my  aid  in  thy  name  of  Wisdom  I 

Set!    Set!   Set! 

Descend  to  me  in  thy  name  of  Evil! 

Turn  thy  face  earthward,  0  Thoth! 

Turn  thy  face  earthward,  0  Set! 

Enter  my  heart,  Ye  Gods;  let  thy 

Hearts  become  my  heart;  thy  wisdom 

My  Wisdom. 

I  know  thy  Hidden  Names,  0  Thoth! 

Thy  Talismans  are  before  me,  0  Set! 

Thoth  thou  art  compelled,  Set  thou  art 

Compelled.    Hither  to  me,  0  Wisdom!  Hither 

To  me,  0  Evil! 

Send  inspiration,  0  Thoth !    Grant  opportunity,  0  Set ! 


Enana  Seeks  the  Gods'  Aid    171 

As  the  aged  Magician's  voice  shrilled  out 
upon  the  night  air  Bata,  the  unhappy;  UiuV 
aged  nurse,  suddenly  awoke. 

Softly  she  stole  down  the  corridor  from  a 
chamber  at  the  rear  of  the  tomb,  where  she 
usually  slept.  Bata  reached  the  open  door  just 
in  time  to  hear  Enana  command  the  very  gods 
to  descend  to  earth.  The  horrified  Bata  fell 
in  a  faint  across  the  threshold. 

When  at  length  Bata  returned  to  conscious 
ness,  she  somehow  managed  to  crawl  back  to  her 
room,  dumb  with  terror.  Bata  had  seen  the  old 
Magician's  trembling  form  aglow  with  a  mystic 
light,  his  upturned  face  shining  with  some 
inward  flame.  Before  him,  out  of  the  gloom 
there  had  suddenly  appeared  two  heavily 
cloaked  figures.  Bata  never  doubted  but  that 
the  tall  forms  were  those  of  the  great  gods 
Thoth  and  Set. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

RAMSES  AND  SESEN 

THE  youthful  Ramses,  leader  of  the  recent 
successful  expedition  against  the  Nubians, 
had  won  for  himself  many  titles  of  dis 
tinction.    Yet,  chief  among  these  undoubtedly, 
was  his  new  appointment  to  the  rank  of  Fan- 
Bearer-on-the-Right-of-Pharaoh. 

The  post  of  Fan-Bearer  was  an  office  eagerly 
sought  by  the  more  exalted  nobles,  since  it  gave 
one  the  ear  of  Pharaoh,  as  did  perhaps  no  other 
position  at  Court.  The  one  possible  exception 
was  the  post  held  by  Dedu,  son  of  Den,  through 
four  generations  at  least,  the  coveted  post  of 
Keeper-of -the-King  's-Robes. 

The  title  of  Fan-Bearer  had  been  given 
Ramses  by  Pharaoh  at  Thi's  earnest  solicitation. 
The  Queen-Mother  had  been  prompted  to  this 
step  through  no  love  she  bore  the  youthful  sol 
dier,  but  as  part  of  a  plan  which  was  intended 

172 


Ramses  and  Sesen  173 

to  lull  the  stubborn  adherents  of  Amen  into  a 
sense  of  false  security. 

The  aged  Enana,  grandfather  to  Eamses, 
was  the  subject  of  the  Queen-Mother's  especial 
detestation.  Indeed,  detestation  was  by  far  too 
mild  a  word  to  express  her  feelings  in  respect  to 
the  old  magician. 

By  conferring  the  title  of  Fan-Bearer  upon 
Enana 's  grandson,  Thi  hoped  to  put  Enana  and 
the  other  followers  of  Amen  off  their  guard. 
For,  would  not  the  very  title  imply  a  definite 
and  continuous  sojourn  in  the  capital? 

Yet,  of  late,  Thi  felt  that  the  attempt  to  keep 
the  young  soldier  near  the  Court  had  been  ill- 
advised.  For  various  rumors,  vague  hints  of  an 
alarming  nature,  had  reached  the  ears  of  Menna 
the  Overseer. 

These  ill-defined  rumors  had  been  promptly 
reported  to  Thi,  with  various  embellishments,  of 
course,  on  the  part  of  Menna,  son  of  Menna. 

Without  a  doubt,  someone  who  knew  the 
Court,  someone  who  was  familiar  with  the 
secret  intrigues  of  harem  life  in  the  palace,  had 


174       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

been  quietly  spreading  broadcast  palace  secrets 
of  a  most  terrifying  nature. 

One  report  had  it  that  the  present  Pharaoh 
was  a  Syrian,  born  before  Thi's  parents  came 
down  into  Egypt. 

It  was  hinted  that  Yakab  the  Chancellor  was 
his  true  father.  Had  they  not  both  the  same 
extraordinarily  attenuated  figure?  Did  not 
both  suffer  from  the  same  racking  cough?  Did 
not  both  speak  with  a  marked  lisp?  Thi,  the 
Queen-Mother,  was  almost  stout;  the  late  Pha 
raoh  had  been  a  corpulent  man,  in  his  youth 
possessed  of  unusual  strength.  The  face  was 
that  of  Thi,  perhaps,  but  the  body  that  of  Yakab 
the  Chancellor! 

Yes,  it  was  plain  that  Thi  had  done  away  with 
Pharaoh's  former  wife,  the  Lady  Hanit;  that 
Menna  and  Thi  had  planned  the  murder  of  the 
true  heir  to  the  throne,  the  Lady  Hanit 's  son, 
in  order  that  Yakab 's  son,  by  Thi,  might  ascend 
the  Egyptian  throne, 

Finally  it  was  whispered  that  the  murdered 
Prince  still  lived;  that  he  had  escaped  from 


Ramses  and  Sesen  175 

Menna,  son  of  Menna,  into  whose  baleful  charge 
he  had  been  placed. 

All  unwittingly,  Eamses  had  been  drawn  into 
this  maelstrom  of  palace  intrigue.  His  name 
was  frequently  mentioned  in  connection  with 
the  probable  succession  to  the  throne. 

The  subject  of  a  successor  to  the  Horus 
Throne  was  one  of  great  importance  at  this 
moment.  Queen  Noferith  had  borne  the  king 
but  girls — "five  little  beams  of  Shu  the  sun- 
god"  their  royal  father  had  playfully  called 
them.  And  of  these  one  had  recently  become 
the  perfume  of  the  heavenly  lotus  which  the 
sun-god  holds  to  his  august  face ! 

Pharaoh  felt  sure  that  Ramses  himself  knew 
nothing  of  these  rumors.  In  many  a  bitter  dis 
cussion  with  his  mother  and  Menna  the  Over 
seer  Pharaoh  had  frequently  stated  his  convic 
tion  that  Eamses  would  utterly  condemn  such 
traitorous  thoughts  should  they  ever  come  to  his 
ears. 

Pharaoh  had  loved  Ramses  like  a  brother. 
He  had  admired  him  as  some  superior  being. 


176       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

For  a  time  neither  Henna's  craftily  embellished 
reports  nor  Thi's  openly  avowed  hatred  of 
Enana  's  grandson  could  turn  Pharaoh  from  his 
blind  trust  in  the  good  faith  of  his  boyhood's 
hero. 

Himself  ever  a  sickly  child,  Pharaoh  had 
sighed  for  his  coming  of  age,  that  he  might  take 
the  field  with  Eamses,  and  be  himself  a  witness 
of  the  latter 's  many  deeds  of  valor. 

For  years  had  Pharaoh  pictured  himself  in 
the  famous  Warbonnet  of  the  Pharaohs,  that 
bright  blue  headdress  which  Thothmes  and  a 
long  line  of  heroic  forebears  had  carried  far 
into  the  ranks  of  their  stricken  foes  and,  with 
one  exception,  returned  in  safety  to  their  ac 
claiming  people.  Yes,  even  King  Sequenen's 
horrible  death,  at  the  hands  of  the  Hyksos  in- 
;vaders,  was  better  far  than  his  present  life  of 
inaction,  a  life  varied  only  by  tiresome  harem 
plots,  counterplots  and  the  probaoilities  of  a 
general  religious  or  civil  upheaval. 

But  Pharaoh,  under  Thi's  baleful  influence, 
was  as  pliable  as  the  clay  in  the  deft  fingers  of 


Ramses  and  Sesen  177 

the  potter.  The  Queen-Mother  presently  took 
fright  at  these  oft-repeated  and  ever  highly- 
colored  rumors,  and  it  was  not  long  before  she 
and  Menna  had  convinced  Pharaoh  that  the 
grandson  of  Enana,  at  Thebes,  was  a  constant 
menace. 

Thus,  when  "the  rewards  of  the  King"  were 
yet  warm  in  Ramses'  hands,  that  happy  young 
warrior  was  dismayed  to  receive  a  roll  of 
papyrus,  straight  from  the  hands  of  Majesty,  a 
brief  note  whose  finely  written  contents  neces 
sitated  another  exile  from  Sesen,  from  Thebes 
and  the  home  he  so  dearly  loved,  the  villa  of 
Enana  the  Magician,  his  grandsire.  Ramses 
was  commanded  to  depart  for  the  north  with 
the  setting  of  the  morrow's  sun,  there  to  take 
over  the  Egyptian  army  guarding  the  hostile 
frontier  in  Asia.  Bitter  disappointment,  and 
somewhat  of  anger,  caused  the  voice  of  Ramses 
to  tremble  as  he  directed  his  chairmen  to  set 
him  down  at  Enana 's  villa. 

The  home  of  Ramses'  grandsire  was  built 
upon  a  circular  island  on  the  western  side  of 


178       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

the  Nile.  Seen  from  a  distance,  this  island  ap 
peared  to  float  upon  the  quiet  waters.  The 
low  white  walls  which  surrounded  its  garden,  its 
branching  cedars,  full  crested  palms  and 
feathery  mimosa  trees,  were  mirrored  in  the 
waters  of  the  inundation. 

Enana  the  Magician  had  felt  called  upon  to 
live  comparatively  near  to  Semet,  Thebes*  un 
ending  burial  ground,  since,  during  the  former 
monarch's  lifetime  he  had  been  appointed 
1 '  Guardian  of  the  Royal  Tombs.  ' ' 

Enana  was  proud  of  his  skill  in  necromancy ; 
Enana  was  even  more  proud  of  his  knowledge  of 
astrology,  botany,  medicine  and  of  his  intimate 
acquaintance  with  the  Magic  Scrolls  of  the  Con 
jurers  and  Sorcerers  of  Amen.  But,  above  all 
else,  Enana  enjoyed  hearing  himself  addressed 
as  Guardian  of  the  Ancestors,  whenever  a  sum 
mons  from  Majesty  or  a  Court  Function  had 
necessitated  his  presence  at  the  Palace.  Alas, 
as  far  as  Enana  and  Eenet,  his  wife,  were  con 
cerned,  such  functions  had  long  since  ceased ! 

Nevertheless,  to-day  was  a  gala  day  with 


Ramses  and  Sesen  179 

Enana,  a  day  of  rejoicing  to  his  entire  house 
hold.  For  to-day  Enana,  son  of  Enana,  had 
arrived  at  the  ever-prayed  for  one  hundred  and 
ten  years ! 

One  other  living  person  alone  could  boast  of 
such  a  record  and  that  was  the  father  of  Thi,  the 
Queen-Mother.  But  luya  was  only  a  nobleman 
by  courtesy,  an  Asiatic,  an  heretical  believer  in 
Aton.  Enana  scorned  luya  as  a  pretentious  old 
scoundrel,  who  spent  the  major  part  of  his  time 
decrying  everything  Egyptian  and  lauding 
Syria,  and  all  things  Syrian.  , 

All  morning  had  the  aged  Magician,  and  the 
Lady  Eenet,  his  wife,  sat  beside  the  garden  pool 
listening  to  the  effusive  congratulations  of  his 
friends,  his  neighbors,  and  the  many  members 
of  his  house  and  wide  domain. 

All  that  morning  his  bustling  servants  had 
been  busy  arranging  the  various  presents  along 
the  awning-shaded  corridor  which  faced  the 
tree-set  garden. 

Bars  and  collarettes  of  gold,  electrum  and 
silver ;  bead  stands  of  lazuli,  malachite,  crystal, 


180       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

carnelian,  amethyst,  beryl,  jasper;  great  pend 
ants  in  gold,  silver  or  bright  blue  fayence; 
finger-rings  of  gold  encrusted  with  colored 
pastes  or  set  with  little  green  glazed  beetles, 
carved  in  stone  and  engraved  below  with  felici 
tous  expressions;  treasures  big  and  little  were 
piled  high  in  seemingly  innumerable  vessels  and 
exposed  on  brightly  painted  wooden  tables  or 
stands  along  the  halls  and  corridors. 

Clusters  of  white,  soft  pink  or  pale  blue  lotus 
flowers  were  bound  about  frames  bent  to  repre 
sent  the  anekh  or  sign  of  "longevity."  The 
nofer  or  sign  of  "happiness,"  in  the  shape  of 
little  lutes,  hung  from  every  branch  in  the  gar 
den. 

There  had  been  but  one  thing  lacking  in  a 
morning  of  never-to-be-forgotten  successes.  As 
Khufu  the  Butler  had  remarked,  not  a  single 
member  of  the  Eoyal  House  had  visited  their 
honored  master;  not  even  a  Eoyal  Usher  had 
come  with  the  customary  messages  of  felicita 
tion  or  with  the  usual  "gold  of  honor."  To 
Khufu,  as  to  the  other  devoted  servants  of  the 


Ramses  and  Sesen  181 

aged  Magician,  this  neglect  was  the  occasion  of 
grave  concern. 

Not  so  to  Enana!  Well  he  knew  the  reason 
of  this  breach  of  courtesy,  this  public  affront. 

Enana 's  early  training  had  been  behind  the 
walls  of  Amen 's  great  temple  in  the  Apt.  There 
for  years  had  he  served  Amen,  God  of  Thebes, 
as  chorister,  incense-bearer,  lector,  keri  heb 
and,  lastly,  as  Chief  Magician. 

Enana  was  known  as  a  devoted  follower  of 
Amen,  as  an  ardent  and  incorruptible  believer 
in  the  power  of  the  greatest  of  all  gods,  Amen 
of  Thebes.  As  such  he  knew  well  that  he  had 
incurred  the  undying  hatred  of  Thi  the  Syrian, 
whose  one  ambition  in  life,  now  that  her  son 
was  established  on  the  throne,  was  the  over 
throw  of  Amen  and  the  destruction  of  all  the 
other  local  gods  of  Egypt.  If  Thi  could  com 
pass  it,  Aton,  the  Syrian  sun-god,  should  be  the 
sole  object  of  worship  from  Suan  of  the  north  to 
Suan  of  the  south. 

At  the  present  moment,  however,  Enana  had 
pushed  from  his  mind  all  thoughts  of  Thi,  All 


1 82       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

his  present  enjoyment  was  centered  in  the 
scheme  next  his  heart  and  in  his  anticipation  of 
seeing  Ramses,  his  grandson,  whom  it  mostly 
concerned. 

At  any  moment  the  young  soldier  might  dash 
through  the  gate  in  that  impetuous  way  so  dear 
to  the  frail  old  man. 

Enana  sat  with  his  wrinkled  hands  resting 
upon  the  squares  of  gold  leaf  with  which  his 
tunic  was  faced.  His  beady  black  eyes  were 
fixed  upon  the  open  door,  his  ears  alert  to  catch 
the  first  shout  of  Ramses'  bearers,  as  they 
rounded  the  great  Mortuary  Temple  near  by. 
From  time  to  time  his  hand  went  to  his  bosom 
where  rested  the  magic  book. 

But  the  sun-god  began  his  descent  into  the 
realms  of  darkness,  lights  broke  out  in  the  dis 
tant  city,  a  line  of  chanting  priests  bearing 
torches  appeared  upon  the  walls  of  Amen- 
hotep  's  temple,  the  light  upon  the  high  stand  at 
Enana 's  elbow  was  lit.  Yet  Eamses  did  not 
come. 

Ah,  Enana,  but  a  little  patience!    Magician 


Ramses  and  Sesen  183 

though  thou  art,  the  Goddess  Hathor  is  more 
powerful  than  thou! 

Even  as  Ramses  had  finished  reading  the 
royal  command  and  set  his  hand  to  the  arm  of 
his  carrying-chair,  Senab  the  Usher  advanced 
bowing  and  handed  him  a  second  note. 

Joy  lit  up  the  stern  face  of  the  young  soldier 
as  he  read;  a  sudden  animation  seemed  to  fill 
his  whole  being.  Bidding  his  chairmen  await 
him  in  the  outer  court,  he  turned  and  followed 
Seneb,  the  Usher,  through  the  columned  aisles 
of  the  Audience  Hall. 

Arrived  before  the  line  of  granite  sphinxes 
which  fronted  the  Treasury  of  Silver,  Seneb 
bowed  again,  turned  on  his  heel  and  left  him. 

Three  women  stood  beneath  a  doorway  which 
fronted  the  innermost  court.  Eagerly  Ramses 
advanced  as  the  form  of  the  Princess  Sesen 
stepped  out  from  its  shadows: 

"Sesen,  they  told  me  thou  wert  with  thy 
Father  in  Thinis  I  Had  I  known,  in  truth,  that 
the  Palace  held  thee,  I  would  have  come  to 
claim  thy  promised  reward. 


184       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

* '  By  Hathor !  Thou  are  more  radiantly  beau 
tiful  than  when  I  left  thee  last !  How  often  have 
I  lain  awake  at  night  thinking  of  thee.  The  hot 
nights  upon  the  desert  sand  passed  quickly, 
restfully,  for  dreams  of  thee ! 

"Sesen,  thou  knowest  all  my  lovej'all  my 
hopes  are  centered  in  thee.  What  are  the 
rewards  of  Majesty  to  the  reward  that  thou  hast 
promised  me — thyself.  Look !  I  have  kept  my 
word.  I  found  the  famous  jewel  which  Enana 
told  thee  of  and — it  is  thine ! ' ' 

Slowly  Ramses  drew  from  his  girdle  a  great 
emerald  set  in  gold.  A  rose-colored  band  of 
fine  gazelle  hide  showed  it  to  have  been  worn 
about  the  forehead  of  its  former  owner,  the 
Nubian  King. 

King  Shaba  will  need  "the  panther's  eye" 
no  more.  His  ashes  lie  beneath  the  smouldering 
ruins  of  his  palace.  Vultures  hover  above  the 
demolished  houses  of  Napata,  his  Capital. 

Sesen  clasped  her  hands  upon  her  bosom  with 
delight.  Without  replying  she  took  the  jewel 
from  Ramses'  hand  and  bound  it  about  her 


Ramses  and  Sesen  185 

gold-filleted  wig.  Ramses  smiled  down  upon' the" 
happy  little  maid,  as  she  sank  into  his  arms. 
The  great  jewel  seemed  to  glow  upon  her  fore 
head,  as  if  it  pulsed  to  the  rapid  beating  of  her 
heart : 

*  *  Sesen,  my  Lotus !    I  love  thee,  I  love  thee ! ' ' 
''And  I,  Ramses,  my  hero,  feared  for  thee. 
Hathor's  altar  has  groaned  beneath  the  burden 
of  my  offerings  for  thy  safe  return. ' ' 

Her  words  brought  to  Ramses'  mind  the  com 
mand  of  Pharaoh.  He  had  found  her  but  to  lose 
her. 

"Dove  of  Hathor,  but  a  few  short  weeks  and 
I  return  to  claim  thee  for  the  Lady  of  my 
House." 

' '  Thou  returnest  T  Whither  goest  thou  f ' ' 
"Alas,  my  Dove!  The  King  commands 
that  I  head  the  Egyptian  host  which  now 
stands  facing  Kheta  and  her  allies  in  Syria. 
By  to-morrow's  sunset  I  must  leave  to  help 
old  Noferhotep  with  his  task.  Yet,  have  no 
fear  for  me.  The  Little  People,  I  think, 
do  but  try  out  Noferhotep.  He,  poor 


1 86       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

man,  grows  weary  of  the  task  of  waiting, 
with  nothing  but  patrol  work  at  best  to  break 
the  monotony  of  his  years  of  frontier  life.  Fear 
not  for  me.  I  have  thy  love,  my  Sesen!  If 
need  be,  I  could  cut  my  way  through  Asia,  with 
thy  name  my  battle-cry.  To-morrow  I  will  see 
thee  after  the  morning  service.  The  Lady 
Eenet  and  her  maids  will  come  to  escort  thee 
to  our  house  for  the  betrothal.  Breath 
of  Ba,  how  happy  will  she  be,  she  and 
Enana,  my  grandsire.  Now  must  I  hurry  to 
them.  As  thou  knowest,  'tis  a  gala  day  with  my 
grandsire.  May  Hathor  bless  thee,  my  Sesen; 
may  Aah  cast  her  protecting  beams  about  thee." 
For  an  instant  the  lovers  held  one  another  in 
a  close  embrace.  The  next,  Ramses  had  mounted 
his  chair.  As  he  did  so,  twinkling  lights  broke 
out  among  the  dark  patch  of  trees  in  which 
stood  Enana 's  distant  villa. 


CHAPTER  XIV 
A  BASH  PROMISE 

IN  his  wooing  of  the  Lady  Sesen,  Menna,  son 
of  Menna,  worked  tirelessly.     Menna  had 
been  born  upon  the  fifth  of  Paophi,  and  who 
does  not  know  that  a  child  born  upon  that 
auspicious  day  is  ever  successful  in  affairs  of 
the  heart! 

Following  his  gift  to  her  of  Bhanar,  the 
beautiful  Syrian,  each  day  brought  to  Sesen 
bunches  of  grapes,  bursting  pomegranates  or 
succulent  dates  from  Menna 's  famous  gardens. 
Frequently  there  were  left  at  her  door  bags  of 
powdered  gold  or  lazuli  for  the  floor  of  her 
rooms,  or  the  choicest  of  fragrant  oils  and  per 
fumes  for  her  toilet.  These  last  were  sealed  in 
little  jars  of  rich  blue  glass  or  in  black  obsidian 
vases  capped  with  gold. 

To-day  Sesen  opened  an  ebony  coffer  richly 
inlaid  with  ivory  and  gold.  Enclosed  within  she 

187 


1 88        Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

found  a  frail  wooden  spoon,  an  incense  spoon, 
carved  to  represent  a  little  maiden  stretched  at 
full  length  in  the  attitude  of  a  swimmer.  The 
names  and  titles  of  Menna,  the  Overseer,  ap 
peared  upon  this  exquisite  work  of  art,  yet,  if 
truth  be  told,  Benny  the  Syrian  had  fash 
ioned  it. 

As  with  Henna's  other  gifts,  a  closely  written 
sheet  of  fine  papyrus  accompanied  the  gift, 
whereon  Sesen  read  of  Henna's  passionate 
desire  for  a  meeting.  Enana  had  advised  her  to 
fan  the  flame  of  Henna's  passion  for  reasons  he 
kept  to  himself.  What  would  he  say  to  this 
effusion? 

The  lines  were  written  alternately  in  letters 
of  red  and  black : 


The  cool  zephyrs  of  the  Northland  can  alone  extinguish 
the  flame  of  my  love! 

I  am  become  like  the  dried  mimosa,  ripe  for  the  baker's 
oven, 

The  fire  of  her  eyes  hath  withered  it. 

When  the  dove  pours  forth  its  plaintive  song,  Sesen  ap 
pears  beneath  the  sycamore. 

Her  slender  form  is  mirrored  in  the  garden  pool. 


A  Rash  Promise  189 

Seeing  her,  the  Moon-goddess  pines  away  with  jealousy; 

the  Sun-god  bids  her  shine  in  his  stead. 
A  full  moon  is  her  gleaming  face; 
The  brightness  of  day  glows  upon  her  forehead; 
Her  full  throat  gleams  like  the  crystals  which  encircle  it; 
The  rose  of  the  flamingo's  wing  is  upon  her  cheek; 
Her  eyes,  painted  with  black  Thinite  kohl,  were  the  gift  of 

Hathor  at  her  birth, 

The  fires  that  burn  within  them  scatter  flaming  darts; 
Countless  as  the  desert  sands  are  the  victims  of  those  eyes! 
Waving  is  her  slender  form,  like  the  palm  trees  of  Erment. 
The  dark  shades  of  night  hide  in  her  hair,  fragrant  with 

musk  and  myrrh. 

A  pomegranate  is  her  mouth,  her  little  teeth  bright  mother- 
of-pearl. 
By  day  she  perfumes  the  air  with  the  odors  of  the  Incense 

Land. 

Her  luster  illuminates  the  darkest  night! 
Ah,  deign  to  heed  my  pleading,  Daughter  of  Hathor! 
As  apart  from  thee,  I  am  as  one  among  the  Silent  Ones; 

as  one  whose  mouth  has  not  been  opened. 
Ask  the  Moon-goddess  of  my  bitter  state. 
She  will  tell  thee  that  I  am  indeed  the  ally  of  sorrow  and 

anguish. 

"With  a  frown  Sesen  tore  the  note  into  little 
pieces  and  went  on  with  her  interrupted  game 
of  draughts  with  Merit-aton,  Pharaoh's  eldest 
daughter. 

Until  Menna  had  stumbled  upon  Benny,  the 


190       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

Syrian,  hawking  his  despised  figurines  in  the 
inhospitable  streets  of  Thinis,  Beq,  an  Egyptian 
sculptor  attached  to  his  house,  had  served 
Menna  the  Overseer  as  messenger. 

For  Menna,  when  not  on  duty  at  the  Palace, 
was  accustomed  to  rise  late.  Henna's  mornings 
were  spent  at  the  bath.  Indeed,  it  not  infre- 
frequently  happened  that  the  sun  had  begun 
his  downward  flight  across  the  heavens  before 
the  lordly  Overseer  had  succeeded  in  escaping 
from  the  minstrations  of  his  slaves. 

For  several  hours  he  must  perforce  suffer 
the  attentions  of  his  body-servants,  his  wig- 
keeper,  sandal-bearer,  perfumer,  and  the  keeper 
of  his  jewels. 

Thus,  one  stalwart  Ethiopian,  having  finished 
rubbing  his  handsome  frame  with  aromatic  oils, 
another  slipped  about  him  the  tunic  and  over 
dress  of  the  day.  And  what  to  an  ordinary 
mortal  constituted  a  tight  tunic,  appeared  to 
Benkhu,  the  Prince's  body-servant,  positively 
loose  and  ill-fitting. 

And  since  Menna  affected  extremes,  his  tunic 


A  Rash  Promise  191 

fitted  far  more  closely,  his  voluminous  and 
richly  plaited  over-dress  swung  out  in  far  more 
ample  folds,  than  those  of  any  other  of  the  fop 
pish  members  of  the  Theban  Court. 

Indeed,  Menna  left  Benkhu's  nimble  fingers 
dressed  as  few  others  of  the  courtiers  could  be 
dressed. 

His  costuming  completed,  Menna  listened  to 
the  reports  of  his  farm  overseers,  and  to  those 
of  his  spies  both  of  court,  bazaar  and  temple. 
For  Menna,  though  outwardly  faithful  to  Aton, 
still  continued  to  hold  the  honorific  post  of 
Scribe  of  the  Estates  of  Amen. 

His  business  attended  to,  Menna  essayed  a 
game  of  draughts  with  one  of  his  friends,  or 
rowed  about  the  lake  in  Thi's  pleasure-barge.  It 
was  the  policy  of  Menna  never  to  be  far  from 
Thi,  the  Queen-Mother. 

When  Renny,  the  Syrian,  had  been  enrolled 
among  the  retainers  of  Menna,  the  Overseer 
had  affected  to  see  much  of  him.  He  went  to  the 
length  of  separating  Benny  from  Beq  and  the 
native  Egyptian  craftsmen  attached  to  his 


192       Hank:  the  Enchantress 

house.  He  even  provided  Kenny  with  a  studio 
to  himself. 

To  this  workshop  Menna  himself  would  come 
at  times,  ostensibly  to  seek  instruction  in  model 
ing,  sculpture  and  wood-carving.  As  a  matter 
of  fact  his  visits  were  prompted  by  the  desire  to 
use  Benny  and  his  art  as  in  former  times  he  had 
that  of  Beq  and  the  native  craftsmen. 

Eenny  fell  in  with  this  whim  of  his  powerful 
patron.  Many  a  minor  ornament,  such  as  a 
small  lotus  bowl,  incense-spoon  or  sacred  image, 
had  Benny  produced,  without  neglecting  to  leave 
some  slight  detail  for  the  handsome  Overseer  to 
finish.  Benny's  artistic  productions  Menna  in 
continently  made  his  own,  adding  Tils  name  and 
titles  together  with  the  date  of  its  completion. 

Coming  from  the  hand  of  such  a  critical 
student  of  the  arts,  these  small,  but  ever  choice 
mementoes  were  eagerly  sought  at  Court.  No 
one  doubted  but  that  they  were  the  work  of  the 
gifted  Overseer  himself. 

Of  late  gifts  and  mementoes  of  this  sort  had 
suddenly  ceased  to  materialize,  and  Menna, 


A  Rash  Promise  193 

taxed  with  laziness  by  his  friends  at  Court, 
gave  it  to  be  understood  that  a  far  more  im 
portant  undertaking  now  engaged  his  time. 
But  the  true  reason  of  the  present  inaction  of 
the  Overseer  was  due  to  Benny,  the  Syrian. 

That  unhappy  youth,  in  his  constant  visits  to 
the  Palace  to  deliver  his  masters'  gifts  and 
notes  to  Sesen,  had  seen  all  too  much  of  the 
beautiful  Princess. 

Yet,  a  single  visit,  and  that  his  first,  had 
proved  more  than  enough  to  cause  the  beauty- 
loving  Kenny  to  come  beneath  the  spell  of 
Sesen 's  haunting  loveliness. 

Do  what  he  would  to  conceal  his  senseless 
passion,  Eenny  felt  that  the  fire  at  his  heart 
would  mount  to  his  eyes,  the  surging  blood,  that 
seemed  ever  about  to  burst  his  heart,  would 
flame  into  his  cheeks. 

At  one  moment  Renny  soared  into  the  highest 
heavens;  the  next  found  him  plunged  into  the 
gloomiest  despair.  He,  an  unknown  sculptor,  a 
despised  foreigner,  dared  to  lift  his  eyes  to  an 
exalted  lady  of  the  Egyptian  Court ! 


194       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

Knowing  too  well  the  hopelessness  of  his 
present  position,  Kenny  sought  to  hide  his  pas 
sion. 

Unluckily  for  the  distracted  sculptor,  his 
burning  hand  had  come  in  contact  with  the 
tapering  fingers  of  the  Princess. 

Straightway  Benny  had  thrown  himself  upon 
his  knees  and  poured  out  to  her  startled  ears 
the  torrent  of  passionate  words  which  had  so 
long  trembled  upon  his  lips.  Benny  lost  his 
head ;  his  discretion  vanished  to  the  four  winds 
of  Heaven. 

Sesen  gazed  down  at  the  bowed  head  of  the 
young  sculptor  in  utter  bewilderment.  She 
could  not  have  said  whether  she  was  more  sur 
prised,  angered  or  amused.  She  clapped  her 
hands  twice ;  she  would  hand  him  to  the  guards. 
Yet,  as  the  archers  appeared  from  behind  the 
columns  of  the  courtyard,  she  changed  her  mind. 
A  sudden  wave  of  tenderest  sympathy  for 
Bhanar  swept  over  the  Princess.  So  it  was  not 
Bhanar  he  had  sought  so  eagerly.  Her  heart 
ached  for  the  quiet  little  maid  standing  so  still 
and  mute  behind  her.  She  turned  to  Bhanar : 


A  Rash  Promise  195 

''So  this  is  that  Renny,  the  Incomparable,  of 
whom  thou  hast  so  often  spoken,  my  Bhanar! 
Dare  men  so  address  a  Princess  of  the  Blood  in 
thine  own  country  and  live?  Like  master,  like 
man!" 

Renny  leaped  to  his  feet,  his  face  aflame  with 
various  emotions,  amongst  which  wounded 
pride,  perhaps  was  not  the  least. 

"Lady!  Since  when  is  it  considered  a  deed 
ill-done  that  a  man  should  speak  the  love  and 
reverence  which  he  bears  a  maid?  The  mirror 
in  thy  hand  should  tell  thee  that  few  could  look 
upon  a  face  so  fair,  a  form  that  Hathor's  self 
must  envy,  and  not  be  stricken  with  that  malady 
which  not  even  the  King's  physician  hath  power 
to  cure!  That  I  love  thee  I  cannot  help.  My 
heart  beats  to  thoughts  of  thee;  thy  image  is 
stamped  upon  my  very  eyes ! 

"As  to  my  master,  the  Lord  Menna,  I  serve 
the  Prince  from  gratitude.  He  found  me  well 
nigh  starving  in  the  streets  of  Thinis  and  gave 
me  food  and  shelter.  All  my  work  he  purchased 
and  put  me  in  the  place  of  Beq,  a  sculptor  whose 
work  is  excellent,  according  to  your  Egyptian 


196       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

standard.  His  portrait  of  thee  I  myself  have 
much  admired. 

' '  Yet,  Most  Beautiful,  'tis  not  thee !  'Twould 
answer  as  well  for  any  Lady  of  the  Court.  Were 
I  to  model  thee,  Fragrance  of  the  Gods,  thou 
shouldst  see  a  living,  breathing  'double'  of 
thyself,  thy  very  ka  in  stone.  This  I  could' 
prove  to  thee  as  could  no  other/* 

During  this  conversation  Bhanar  had  con 
tinued  to  ply  the  ostrich-feather  fan  above  her 
mistress's  head.  Anguish  for  Eenny,  pity  for 
herself,  showed  in  her  beautiful  eyes. 

Sesen 's  heart  bled  for  her.  Sesen  knew 
Bhanar 's  history  well.  Bhanar  never  tired  of 
talking  about  her  beloved  village,  of  her  dear 
Rippa,  nestled  among  the  distant  Syrian  hills. 

The  little  Princess  had  soon  perceived  that 
Bhanar 's  girlish  love  for  her  childhood's  com 
panion  had  ripened  into  something  stronger. 

She  had  soon  noticed  how  artfully  Bhanar 
managed  to  forestall  Sesen 's  other  maids  when 
ever  Kenny's  name  was  announced  by  the  usher. 

Benny's  joy  and  relief  at  finding  her  in  the 


A  Rash  Promise  197 

household  of  the  Princess  had  been  genuine, 
since  for  a  time,  he  had  felt  that  he  and  Yakab 
had  failed  her.  Thereafter,  at  each  and  every 
visit  to  the  Palace,  he  had  quite  naturally  sought 
his  beautiful  country-woman.  He  knew  that 
through  her  he  would  the  more  readily  reach 
the  lady  of  his  master's  infatuation. 

Renny  had  strict  orders  to  deliver  his  mas 
ter's  notes  into  the  hand  of  Sesen  in  person. 
This  at  first  he  could  never  have  accomplished, 
had  it  not  been  for  Bhanar's  assistance. 

This  insistence  of  Renny  to  reach  her  through 
Bhanar  alone  Sesen  had  misinterpreted. 

Then  came  that  fatal  day  when  Bhanar  lis 
tened  to  Eenny  as  he  poured  out  his  tale  of  love 
for  her  mistress.  Bhanar's  heart  seemed  to 
stop  its  beating.  From  that  moment  she  real 
ized  that  she  loved  Renny  with  all  the  love  that 
he — that  he,  alas,  felt  for  Sesen,  her  mistress. 

At  this  moment  an  agonizing  sympathy  for 
Renny  seemed  to  freeze  her  heart.  She  knew 
that  Renny  at  best  did  but  provide  distraction 
for  the  Princess.  And  now,  in  this  statue  of 


198       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

which"  he  talked,  Eenny  held  out  still  further 
hopes  of  diversion.  From  her  frequent  visits  to 
Enana's  villa,  Bhanar  knew  that  the  absent 
Eamses  was  ever  in  Sesen's  mind,  though  never 
once  had  the  little  maid  referred  to  him.  In 
vain  had  she  confided  her  knowledge  of  the 
mutual  love  of  Sesen  and  Eamses  to  the  unheed 
ing  Eenny. 

Sesen  turned  from  the  sculptor  as  if  to  leave. 
At  the  threshold  of  the  steps  she  paused  for  a 
moment : 

11  Syrian,  if  you  can  indeed  model  such  a  por 
trait  as  that  of  which  you  speak,  gladly  will  I 
purchase  it  of  thee,  and  with  it  thy  freedom.' ' 

The  overjoyed  Eenny  kissed  the  hand  she 
gave  him; 

"Within  the  month,  Most  Beauteous  One! 
Give  me  but  four  short  weeks  and  thou  shalt  see 
thyself  as  no  one  within  the  confines  of  the  four 
iron  pillars  could  ever  hope  to  model  thee.  As 
to  payment,  I  seek  it  not.  Freedom  might  lead 
me  away  from  thee ! ' ' 

Eenny  again  passionately  kissed  the  jeweled 


A  Rash  Promise  199 

fingers  of  the  little  Princess  and  dashed  from 
the  Court.  How  he  finally  managed  to  reach  his 
studio  door,  he  never  knew. 

Alas,  for  Renny  and  his  promise.  Even  as  he 
left  the  outer  corridor,  Bar,  chief  of  his  master's 
spies,  glided  noiselessly  from  behind  one  of  the 
great  painted  columns  nearby. 

Thereafter,  Menna  the  Overseer  saw  to  it 
that  Eenny  sped  upon  no  more  missions  to  the 
Palace.  On  the  contrary  he  was  sternly  warned 
to  keep  within  his  master's  villa-garden,  and  the 
little  workshop  which  had  been  provided  for 

him. 

Yet,  as  luck  would  have  it,  in  order  to  keep 
him  busily  occupied,  Menna  commanded  him  to 
model  a  statue  of  Hathor,  Goddess  of  Beauty. 
This  statue,  when  completed,  Menna  intended  to 
present  to  the  late  Pharaoh's  shrine  at  Amada 
to  the  south.  But  to  Eenny  he  omitted  to  men 
tion  that  his  name  and  his  alone  would  appear 
upon  its  ivory  pedestal ! 


CHAPTER  XV 
A  STATUE  OF  HATHOR.  GODDESS  OF  LOVE 

MENNA  the  Overseer  had  little  conception 
of  the  torture  he  had  inflicted  upon  the 
mind  of  the  youthful  Eenny  when  he 
forbade  him  his  liberty.  Hollow-cheeked  and 
well  nigh  mad,  Renny  so  far  disobeyed  his 
patron's  orders  that  he  sat  for  hours,  nay,  for 
days  at  a  time,  huddled  like  a  beggar  at  the 
Palace  gate. 

Not  even  the  gentle  Bhanar  could  console  hiiri 
whenever,  as  so  frequently  happened,  a  day 
went  by  without  its  being  possible  for  the  dis 
tracted  youth  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  his  idol. 

Then,  suddenly,  he  remembered  his  promise 
to  the  Princess.  He  sought  out  Khnum,  the 
royal  quarryman,  who  had  but  now  moored  to 
the  western  bank  with  a  cargo  consisting  in  the 
main  of  the  precious  alabaster  of  Hatnub.  He 
bribed  Khnum  to  procure  him  a  giant  block  of 

200 


A  Statue  of  Hathor  201 

purest  alabaster,  a  mass  of  the  creamiest  ma 
terial  which  the  alabaster  quarries  could  pro 
vide. 

For  days  did  master-quarryman  Khnum  seek 
a  block  of  the  unusual  proportions  demanded  by 
the  impatient  sculptor.  A  week  went  by,  an 
eternity  to  the  tortured  artist. 

Finally,  just  as  he  was  about  to  despatch  a 
second  expedition  northward,  and  during  the 
heat  of  one  of  the  first  days  of  the  great  sand 
storm,  Khnum  and  his  sweating  assistants 
hauled  a  wooden  sledge  before  his  dust-covered 
threshold.  And  there,  high  upon  the  friction- 
charred  vehicle,  stood  the  glossiest  block  of 
Hatnub's  finest  alabaster  which  the  distracted 
Renny  had  ever  seen. 

For  many  years  men  spoke  of  that  never-to- 
be-forgotten  sandstorm,  a  storm  which  ushered 
in  days  of  blinding  heat,  days  in  which  the  flints 
that  strewed  the  desert  plateau  cracked  beneath 
the  excoriating  heat;  days  in  which  the  ocher- 
hued  river  banks,  confining  a  blinding  reach  of 
sluggish  water,  the  shriveled  and  blasted  syca- 


2O2       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

more,  tamarisks  and  palms,  nay,  the  very  capi 
tal  itself,  seemed  to  be  confined  within  the  sun- 
god  's  fiery  furnace. 

Day  in,  day  out,  those  death-dealing  rays  shot 
from  a  changeless  vault  of  steely  blue.  Down 
sank  the  tortured  cattle;  the  birds  gasped 
among  the  shriveled  leaves  of  the  trees.  The 
very  soil,  by  now  as  hard  as  any  southern  gran 
ite,  yawned  with  wide-thrown  crevices  many 
cubits  deep.  Far  to  the  south  the  broad-winged 
vultures  circled  slowly  earthward  from  their 
lofty  posts,  as  if  they  too  feared  the  darts  of  the 
outraged  Amen. 

It  was  a  sudden  and  appalling  visitation 
which  luckily  blew  itself  out  within  but  four  of 
the  customary  nine  days  of  blinding  wind  and 
sand. 

Yet,  throughout  those  four  memorable  days 
and  thereafter  Benny  worked  as  he  had  never 
worked  before. 

Now,  there  came  a  day  when  Menna  ordered 
his  carrying-chair  and  bade  his  bearers  set  him 
down  before  the  door  of  Benny's  workshop. 


A  Statue  of  Hathor  203 

At  the  Overseer's  repeated  knocks  the  bolts 
were  slowly  drawn.  Through  the  barely  opened 
door  Renny,  blinded  by  the  glare,  gazed  unsee- 
ingly  toward  the  extended  hand  of  his  smiling 
patron : 

"How  now,  Syrian?  Hast  turned  magician? 
Bar  tells  me  thou  must  needs  have  conned  the 
Jiekau-spell  that  bringeth  food  and  drink,  since 
all  the  food  that  is  brought  thee  stands  untasted. 
Breath  of  the  Goddess  I  Why  hast  sulked  be 
hind  barred  doors  these  weeks  and  more?" 
Menna  made  as  if  to  step  within. 

"Ah,  master,  most  noble  lord,  I  do  beseech 
thee,  go  not  within !  Bethink  thee,  Splendor  of 
Thebes,  when  first  I  came  to  thee,  thou  didst 
assure  to  me  that  privacy  which,  far  more  than 
thy  golden  uten,  I  did  ask  of  thee!  Continue 
now  thy  favor  some  little  time,  I  pray.  Thy 
statue  of  the  Goddess  Hathor  is  ...  !" 

"  Amemet  eat  me  I  Days,  nay  weeks,  have  we 
waited  for  a  sight  of  it !  Now  is  our  sore-tried 
patience  at  an  end." 

With    a    firmness    unexpected   in   the    cus- 


2O4       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

tomarily  indolent  Menna,  the  Overseer  pushed 
the  trembling  Kenny  aside  and  entered  the 
workshop. 

At  first,  so  sudden  was  the  change  from  the 
glare  of  noonday  to  the  murky  shadows  of  the 
room,  that  Menna  could  distinguish  nothing. 
When  at  last  his  eyes  grew  somewhat  accus 
tomed  to  the  gloom,  he  found  himself  staring 
at  the  tinted  statue  of  a  regally  robed  woman, 
a  life-sized  figure  so  startlingly  realistic  that  for 
a  moment  he  instinctively  drew  back. 

Upon  a  pedestal  festooned  with  drooping 
lotus  and  fragrant  mimosa  stood  the  smiling 
figure  of  the  Princess  Sesen.  So  lifelike  did  the 
statue  appear  to  the  bewildered  noble,  that  for 
a  space  of  a  full  minute,  he  waited,  expecting 
her  lips  to  part,  her  tongue  to  utter  the  cus 
tomary  greetings. 

Once  his  jeweled  fingers  had  assured  him  that 
the  figure  was  but  tinted  stone,  Menna  burst  into 
voluble  exclamations  of  wonder  and  delight. 

11  Verily,  said  I  not  that  thou  hadst  learned 


A  Statue  of  Hathor  205 

some  potent  charm,  some  mighty  hekau,  known 
but  to  the  blessed  gods  alone? 

" Breath  of  Hathor!  'Tis  the  work  of  Ptah, 
nay,  of  Khnum  himself,  Fashioner  of  Mankind ! 
None  but  a  god  could  thus  turn  stone  to  flesh, 
put  breath  in  the  nostrils,  life  in  the  eye ! 

"Ah  Syrian!  if  this  be  Syrian  art,  my  heated 
arguments  were  but  wasted  breath !  Compared 
to  our  Egyptian  figures,  shackled,  mummified, 
as  lifeless  as  the  granite  they  are  carved  in,  here 
stands  grace  and  freedom,  life  itself ! 

"By  the  Theban  Triad,  the  very  blind  would 
know  this  figure  for  the  Princess,  the  Lady 
Sesen  .  .  .  I" 

Menna  broke  off  abruptly.    Sesen? 

Suddenly  Menna 's  face  flamed  in  anger. 
Could  there  indeed  be  something  between  the 
Princess  and  this  slave,  this  nobody? 

Nay,  as  far  as  the  Princess  was  concerned, 
Menna  felt  sure  that  Bar's  reports  of  Benny's 
heedless  temerity  were  false.  At  the  moment 
Menna  felt  sure  that  he  had  good  cause  to  trust 


206       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

the  Princess.  He  fingered  a  scented  note  tucked 
in  his  jeweled  belt. 

But  Renny  .  .  .  f 

Menna  shook  his  perfumed  wig,  and  turning, 
spoke  the  young  man's  name.  Thrice  he  called, 
then  strode  to  the  half  opened  door. 

Kenny  had  vanished. 

With  a  threatening  imprecation  the  irate 
Overseer  turned  once  more  to  the  statue. 

Yes,  here  was  Hathor,  Goddess  of  Beauty, 
Goddess  of  Love,  as  none  in  Egypt  had  ever  con 
ceived  her  I 

Henna's  brain  worked  fast.  The  statue  he 
vowed  to  make  his  own.  Bar  and  his  minions 
were  despatched  to  do  away  with  Kenny ! 

What  a  sensation  would  this  work  produce  at 
Court,  and  especially  upon  the  mind  of  the  art- 
loving  Pharaoh!  Menna  allowed  himself 
visions  of  a  naturalistic  school  modeled  upon 
the  Syrian,  an  essentially  realistic  school  which 
should  utterly  banish  the  hieratic  canons  im 
posed  upon  the  Egyptian  craftsmen  by  the 


A  Statue  of  Hathor          207 

dictates  of  precedent  and  the  will  of  an  all- 
powerful  priesthood. 

Meantime,  thought  the  Overseer,  the  statue 
must  be  kept  from  sight,  at  least,  until  Benny 
was  safely  out  of  the  way. 

He  sent  off  a  chairman  to  bring  clay,  string 
and  his  signet  ring.  With  his  own  hands  he 
covered  the  statue  with  the  quarryman's  mats 
which  still  clustered  in  one  corner  of  the  little 
chamber. 

In  less  time  than  it  takes  to  tell  it  the  tinted 
figure  of  the  little  Princess  disappeared  from 
sight.  Menna  closed  the  door  and,  slipping  to 
the  bronze  bolt,  bound  it  with  cord  and  set  his 
scarab-seal  upon  a  clay  pellet  which  he  fastened 
thereto.  This  done,  he  hurried  home.  To-day 
was  a  momentous  day  with  Menna,  Overseer  of 
the  King's  Estates. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

THE  CURSE  OF  HUY,  GREAT  HIGH  PRIEST  OF. 

AMEN 

WHAT  Belur  the  Hittite  Ambassador  had 
said,  concerning  the  expected  outbreak 
of  a  religious  war  throughout  Egypt, 
was  true.    Moreover,  no  one  was  greatly  sur 
prised   at  his   report   of   the   disaffection   of 
Egypt's  Asiatic  vassals. 

In  his  efforts  to  establish  the  cult  of  the  Syr 
ian  sun-god,  in  place  of  that  of  the  various 
Egyptian  deities,  Pharaoh  had  little  time  to  at 
tend  to  the  exacting  affairs  of  his  country's  vast 
empire  abroad. 

However,  Belur 's  words  cannot  have  taken 
him  altogether  by  surprise,  since  runners  had 
brought  letters  daily  from  the  few  faithful 
vassal-kings  along  his  Syrian  border,  letters 
begging  help  from  Egypt. 

Indeed,  of  late,  these  hints  of  troubles  to  come 
208 


The  Curse  of  Huy  209 

had  resolved  themselves  into  the  most  urgent 
appeals  for  troops  to  assist  in  stemming  the 
advance  of  the  dreaded  Hittites.  Two  messen 
gers  had  Noferhotep  sent  from  the  frontier  on 
a  like  errand.  After  a  protracted  delay  Pharaoh 
had  despatched  one  division  of  Ethiopian  troops 
to  his  support. 

Yet,  not  until  this  moment,  when  a  swift  cedar 
boat  was  carrying  Belur  and  his  suite  north 
ward,  did  Pharaoh  appreciate  to  the  full  the 
significance  of  those  despairing  cries  for  aid. 
As  he  now  saw  it,  Belur  had  come  as  spokes 
man  for  a  combined  array  of  Egypt's  Asiatic 
foes,  the  very  mention  of  whose  names  froze 
the  blood  in  Pharaoh's  veins. 

Thereafter  Pharaoh 's  spies  were  very  active, 
along  the  border. 

Time  went  by,  yet  nothing  happened.  Per 
haps  the  boastful  words  of  the  Hittite  were  but 
intended  to  intimidate  him.  Or  could  it  have 
been  that  the  bold  front  which  he  had  assumed 
had  in  turn  deceived  the  Hittite? 

Hearing  nothing  further  of  Eimur  of  Char- 


210       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

chemisli,  or  of  the  kings  of  Kadesh  and 
Megiddo,  Pharaoh  again  took  up  the  work  so 
near  his  heart.  All  his  best  efforts  were  now 
centered  upon  the  establishment  of  the  Syrian 
solar-cult  throughout  Egypt. 

To  this  drastic  move  Pharaoh  was  incited  by 
Yakab  and  by  his  mother,  Thi,  not  so  much  on 
account  of  any  real  love  they  had  for  Aton,  the 
Syrian  deity,  but  mainly  as  a  means  of  ridding 
themselves  of  the  obstructive  influence  of  Huy, 
Enana  and  the  powerful  priesthood  of  Amen 
in  Karnak. 

Realizing  that  the  vast  buildings  of  Amen's 
temples  in  Karnak  could  never  be  moved,  Thi 
pointed  out  to  Pharaoh  how  comparatively  easy 
it  would  be  for  him  to  forsake  Thebes  and  the 
Palace  of  Amenhotep,  his  father,  and  to  erect  a 
new  palace,  a  new  city,  elsewhere. 

To  this  end  Thi  had  urged  Pharaoh  to  aban 
don  Thebes  and  had  prevailed  upon  him  to  erect 
a  new  capital,  the  City  of  the  Sun,  far  to  the 
north'. 

It  was  to  raise  this  new  capital,  together  with 


The  Curse  of  Huy  211 

all  the  houses  and  villas  surrounding  it,  that 
thousands  of  captive  slaves  were  now  put  to 
work  deep  within  the  quarries  of  Hatnub,  quar 
ries  famed  alike  on  account  of  the  superb 
quality  of  their  fine  white  limestone  and  the 
translucency  of  their  striated  alabasters. 

In  building  Pharaoh's  new  city  gigantic 
blocks  in  both  of  these  rich  materials  were 
brought  down  from  the  hills  along  a  specially 
leveled  causeway.  Each  giant  block  had  been 
secured  upon  great  wooden  sleds  of  hardened 
sycamore,  and  hauled  to  the  new  site  by  the  con 
certed  efforts  of  sweating  oxen  and  groaning 
sleds. 

Overseers  were  told  off  to  prod  the  oxen; 
others  to  lash  the  scarred  backs  of  the  unhappy 
Asiatic  slaves.  The  chief  of  each  section  occu 
pied  himself  in  pouring  water  upon  the  ground 
to  prevent  the  sled  from  taking  fire  by  friction, 
or  oil  to  facilitate  the  movement  of  the  sled. 

When  not  so  engaged  the  chief  sang  a  love- 
song  in  time  to  the  thwack  of  the  overseers' 
staves,  as  they  further  lacerated  the  bloody 


212       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

backs  of  the  staggering  captives.  It  was  com 
monly  said  of  a  chief  of  a  quarry-gang  that  he 
needed  but  three  canopic  jars  at  his  entomb 
ment,  since  he  lacked — a  heart. 

At  the  site  of  the  new  city  other  dull-eyed 
Asiatics,  similarly  flogged  into  line,  worked 
waist-deep  in  sandy  pits  or  muddy  ditches.  Day 
in,  day  out,  the  heavy  wooden  brick-carriers  bit 
into  the  cracked  and  blistered  shoulders  of 
emasculated  Amu. 

Indeed,  long  before  the  quickening  rays  of 
Aton  had  mounted  above  the  low  hills  which 
shut  in  the  City  of  the  Sun  to  the  east,  sweat, 
mud  and  blood  had  baked  upon  the  naked  backs 
of  Ethiopian,  Libyan,  Canaanite  and  Kheftiu 
alike.  Nay,  Egyptians  themselves,  the  down 
trodden  herdsmen,  were  as  like  as  not  torn  from 
their  ripening  fields  to  toil  perhaps  at  pressing 
bricks  for  Pharaoh 's  palace,  library  and  villa, 
or,  cursed,  cuffed  and  beaten  by  the  shrieking 
taskmasters,  to  crack  their  thews  at  the  well- 
nigh  smoking  ropes  which  encircle  some  colossal 
shaft,  shrine  or  statue  intended  for  the  great 
temple  of  the  sun-god  Aton. 


The  Curse  of  Huy  213 

From  their  lofty  posts  above  the  valley 
watchful  vultures  craned  their  necks,  as  they 
slowly  circled  earthward.  Such  a  stupendous 
undertaking  exacted  a  heavy  toll  of  death. 

But  what  of  deserted  Thebes,  of  Huy  and  the 
priests  of  Amen? 

Ever  since  the  theft  of  the  cultus-statue  of  the 
temple  by  the  Atonites  the  priests  at  Karnak 
had  shut  themselves  up  behind  the  great  w^alls 
of  the  Temple  of  Amen.  Behind  those  massive 
walls  they  had  continued  to  intone  the  ritual  of 
Amen  to  an  empty  shrine  and  the  Theban 
Eecention  of  the  Book  of  the  Dead  to  deserted 
courts  and  forgotten  offering-tables.  Aton  and 
its  ritual  they  anathematized,  though  an  Aton 
shrine  had,  for  a  time,  been  forced  upon  them. 

In  their  present  extremity  Huy,  the  great 
High  Priest  of  Amen,  relied  for  support  upon 
the  people,  as  did  indeed  his  brother  hiero- 
phants  of  Memphis,  TVinis  and  Abydos. 

Yet,  no  help  came  from  the  priests  of  Ptah, 
of  Atum,  of  Osiris.  The  starving  and  plague- 
stricken  peasants  in  whom  they  trusted  failed 
to  assist  them. 


214       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

For  their  part  the  peasants  well  knew  that  no 
matter  which  of  the  opposing  factions  gained 
the  upper  hand,  their  present  state  of  utter 
wretchedness  would  remain  unchanged. 

What  cared  they  for  Amen,  Ptah  or  Aton, 
when  the  Nile-god  failed  them,  when  Hapi 
neglected  to  pour  his  life-giving  waters  over 
their  parched  and  stricken  fields ! 

What  was  Amen  or  Aton  to  them,  as  they 
watched  their  ashen,  granite-hard  soil  crack 
beneath  the  pitiless  shafts  of  a  ruthless  sun- 
god!  'Twas  an  ill  time  to  pray  to  him  under 
any  one  of  his  three  hundred  names. 

And  so  it  happened  that,  at  Pharaoh's  com 
mand,  an  Atonite  force  attacked  the  battle- 
mented  walls  of  Amen's  temple  in  Karnak. 

As  a  result,  the  ancient  temple  of  Sesostris 
was  utterly  destroyed.  Oldest  of  all  the  temples 
within  the  encircling  walls,  its  cedar  columns, 
its  silver  floors,  its  walls  of  gold  inlaid  with 
malachite  and  lazuli,  together  with  its  hundreds 
of  gold  and  silver  statues  of  the  kings  of  old, 
all  were  lost  in  a  conflagration  started  by  the 


The  Curse  of  Huy  215 

overturning  of  a  colossal  incense-bowl  which 
stood  in  front  of  the  shadow  of  the  god  Min, 
outlined  in  silver  in  the  panels  of  the  sanctuary 
door. 

That  night  Huy,  great  High  Priest  of  Amen, 
lay  dead,  the  poisoned  cup  clenched  in  his  hand. 

Yet,  before  he  went  forth  upon  his  last  long 
journey  across  the  rocky  heights  of  Duat  and 
the  demon-haunted  valleys  of  the  Underworld, 
Huy  had  arrayed  himself  in  full  regalia  and 
taken  his  stand  before  the  yellow  curtain  which 
screened  the  now  empty  shrine  of  the  great  god 
Amen. 

Aloud  he  cried,  "0  Ancient  One,  Primordial 
God!  By  the  power  of  thy  Hidden  Name,  by 
the  Heads  of  the  Demigods  that  surround  thee, 
hear  the  prayer  of  Huy,  thy  servant ! 

"  Grant  that  the  line  of  Ahmes  be  broken  I 
Grant  that  no  child  of  Pharaoh  sit  upon  thy 
golden  throne ! 

"Let  Pharaoh's  name  be  blotted  from  remem 
brance  !  Let  Pharaoh 's  Jca  be  forced  to  wander 
among  the  dunghills  of  forgotten  cities!" 


216       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

Slowly  Huy  raised  the  poisoned  cup:  "And 
now,  0  nameless  One,  before  I  go  forth  upon 
the  way  of  trial,  a  token  that  thou  dost  grant 
my  prayer.  Give  me  a  sign,  0  Holy  One,  a  sign, 
0  Amen,  Lord  of  Lords ! ' ' 

As  if  in  answer  to  the  High  Priest's  cry, 
there  came  a  sound  as  of  the  shaking  of  distant 
sistra  and  silver  cymbals.  There  followed  the 
thrumming  of  many  harps  and  the  sound  of  reed 
pipes.  Suddenly,  through  the  yellow  curtain, 
there  was  seen  a  light  which  slowly  increased  in 
brightness. 

In  terror  the  awe-struck  priests  surrounding 
Huy  hid  their  eyes.  When  again  they  dared  to 
open  them,  they  saw  that  the  great  curtain  had 
been  rent  in  two  and,  below  it,  stretched  at  full 
length,  lay  the  white-robed  figure  of  Huy,  their 
leader. 

In  sorrow,  Antefy,  his  successor,  commanded 
his  bearers  to  carry  him  to  the  chariot  of  Mei, 
the  Atonite,  where  seven  and  seventy  times 
seven  at  the  feet  of  Pharaoh's  victorious  repre 
sentative,  in  words  at  least,  he  fell. 


The  Curse  of  Huy  217 

The  other  disheartened  ministers  of  Amen 
nominally  embraced  the  Aton  creed  then  and 
there,  or,  with  Antefy,  their  new  leader,  retired 
to  a  self-imposed  exile  among  the  arid  sands  of 
Nubia  far  to  the  south. 

The  fall  of  Huy  and  the  priests  of  Amen, 
seeming  to  prove  the  strength  and  determina 
tion  of  Pharaoh,  Memphis,  Thinis  and  Abydos, 
and  thereafter,  nearly  every  local  shrine 
throughout  Egypt,  at  once  raised  altars  to  Aton, 
the  Syrian  sun-god. 

Once  again  fortune  favored  the  Atonites! 


CHAPTER  XVII 

WHY  MENNA 's  CHAIKBEABEB  STAKED  His  ALL 

MENNA,  Overseer  of  the  King's  Estates, 
was  known  to  the  Court  as  a  hard  and 
self-seeking  man,  and  this  in  spite  of 
his  sleekness  of  skin,  his  luxurious  habits  and 
his  untiring  efforts  to  outshine  the  other  "fol 
lowers  of  the  king"  both  in  beauty  of  person, 
knowledge  of  literature  and  the  arts,  indeed,  in 
all  those  visible  evidences  of  culture  which  dis 
tinguished  the  Egyptian  court. 

In  spite  of  this  outward  display  and  ostenta 
tion  Menna,  son  of  Menna,  was  appreciated  at 
his  full  value  by  courtier,  priest  and  peasant 
alike.  Well  they  knew  that  but  a  tithe  of  the 
fat  revenues  which  Menna  collected  for  the  king 
or  had  formerly  collected  for  the  unhappy  Huy, 
Great  High  Priest  of  Amen,  went  to  swell  the 

218 


The  Chairbearer  Stakes  His  All  219 

royal  ''treasuries  of  gold  and  silver"  or  the 
"treasure  of  the  god."  As  yet,  however, 
through  fear  of  the  Overseer's  "eyes  and  ears" 
— spies,  native  and  foreign — no  one  had  dared 
to  inform  upon  him  at  the  Palace. 

In  spite  of  all  Menna  could  do  to  ingratiate 
himself  with  her,  the  Lady  Sesen  ever  sought  to 
avoid  him.  Yet  Menna  never  despaired.  His 
attentions  were  pressed  upon  her,  in  spite  of  all 
she  could  do  to  prevent.  Recently  the  fringed 
Asiatic  garments  of  his  servants,  an  affectation 
of  the  much-traveled  Prince,  were  seldom  ab 
sent  from  her  sight. 

Yet  to-day  something  had  happened  which 
might  bring  it  well  within  the  realms  of  possi 
bility  that  she  might  break  with  the  persistent 
Overseer  once  and  for  all. 

During  the  course  of  one  of  her  visits  to  the 
home  of  Ramses'  grandparents  Enana  had  con 
fided  to  her  a  secret  which  appeared  to  her 
astonished  ears  well-nigh  incredible.  For  from 
him  she  learned  the  astounding  news  that  Hanit, 
her  former  beloved  mistress,  Queen  Hanit 


22O        Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

whom  she  had  but  yesterday  it  seemed,  seen 
laid  to  rest  yonder  in  the  Valley  of  the  Tombs, 
was  alive,  alive! 

Rendered  fairly  dumb  at  once  with  amaze 
ment  and  joy,  Sesen  sat  at  Enana's  knees  as  if 
fascinated,  her  cheeks  aglow,  her  eyes  dancing 
with  excitement,  her  lips  parted  as  if  she  would 
drink  in  his  every  word. 

This,  then,  was  the  reason  of  Enana's  fever 
ish  restlessness  of  late.  Queen  Thi  herself, 
whom  nothing  escaped,  had  remarked  it,  had 
even  commented  upon  it  to  Sesen. 

Naturally,  Sesen  at  the  time  could  give  no 
adequate  explanation  of  the  unusual  behavior, 
the  ill-restrained  excitement,  which  seemed  to 
agitate  the  wizened  body  of  the  old  magician. 
And  Queen  Thi  finally  set  it  down  as  being  due 
to  loss  of  favor  at  court. 

In  fact,  Enana  had  suddenly  withdrawn  en 
tirely  from  all  court  functions.  A  faithful  ad 
herent  of  the  great  god,  Amen  of  Thebes,  and 
a  brother  of  Huy,  late  High  Priest  of  Amen, 
Enana  could  not  but  see  in  Thi  and  Pharaoh  the 


The  Chairbearer  Stakes  His  All  221 

murderers  of  Huy,  his  brother,  and  the  im 
placable  foes  of  Amen  whom  he  loved  and 
served. 

So  the  shriveled  body  which  Kathi  had  sworn 
was  that  of  Hanit  had  been  another's.  Sesen 
recalled  that  Enana  had  often  remarked  the 
striking  resemblance  which  existed  between  the 
ex-Queen  Hanit  and  the  Lady  Meryt. 

It  was  Meryt 's  body  then  which  lay  in  its 
rock-hewn  tomb  back  yonder  swathed  in  yards 
of  milk-white  linens,  encased  in  a  triple  cedar 
coffin  glowing  with  gold  and  gem-incrustations ! 
It  was  Meryt 's  body  which  now  rested  in  its 
huge  granite  sarcophagus,  deep  beneath  the 
crumbling  Western  Hills!  It  was  Meryt 's 
mummified  form  upon  which  she  herself  had 
placed  that  last  sad  offering,  a  chaplet  of 
flowers,  berries  and  leaves !  Hanit,  her  beloved 
mistress,  still  lived ! 

Sesen  could  hardly  follow  Enana  through  the 
astounding  threads  of  his  story.  She  gathered 
that  the  ruse  by  which  her  mistress  had  been 
saved  from  certain  death  at  Queen  Thi's  hands 


222       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

had  been  Enana 's  own,  though  its  successful 
accomplishment  had  been  due  to  the  faithful 
Kathi. 

Sesen  begged  to  be  allowed  to  visit  Hanit, 
but  Enana  restrained  her.  He  spoke  of  the 
terrible  change  in  the  demeanor  of  the  once 
gentle  and  studious  Queen.  He  spoke  of  her 
vindictive  hatred  of  Pharaoh,  of  Thi  and,  more 
than  these  perhaps,  of  Menna,  son  of  Menna, 
whom  she  considered  the  murderer  of  the 
prince,  her  son. 

Since  her  escape  from  the  Temple  all  her 
time  had  been  spent  in  study,  and  that  with  but 
one  end  in  view.  Vengeance  upon  the  trio 
whom  she  had  such  cause  to  hate  had  become 
with  her  an  obsession. 

It  appeared  that  in  the  realms  of  black  art 
Hanit  had  become  the  equal  of  Enana  himself. 
Day  and  night  had  she  pored  over  the  lector's 
rolls  of  papyrus,  until  each  and  every  one  of 
their  incantations  had  become  hers.  She  knew 
all  the  hidden  spells  of  the  Conjurers  of  Amen. 
She  could  part  the  waters  at  a  word.  Her 


The  Chairbearer  Stakes  His  All  223 

ebony  wand  could  cause  grass  to  grow  where  no 
vegetation  had  lived  before.  Behead  a  bird  or 
animal  and,  at  a  word  from  Hanit,  it  would 
spring  to  its  feet  alive  and  whole.  Even  the 
secrets  of  the  masons  and  royal  architects  were 
hers.  She  knew  the  secret  blocks  of  stone 
which,  touched  by  even  the  weakest  hand, 
opened  or  closed  many  a  ponderous  granite 
door  of  tomb  or  shrine. 

Yes  I  She  would  have  vengeance  upon  Pha 
raoh,  upon  Thi,  upon  Menna  .  .  . ! 

At  the  mention  of  Henna's  name  Sesen 
thoughtfully  drew  from  the  folds  of  her  robe  a 
small  roll  of  papyrus,  delicately  scented  and 
inscribed  in  black  and  red  with  another  effusive 
expression  of  the  Overseer's  undying  passion 
and  his  plea  for  a  tryst.  Enana  read  it  twice, 
then  carefully  rolled  it  up  and  placed  it  se 
curely  beneath  his  leather  girdle,  saving  as  he 
did  so: 

1  'Here  may  be  found  the  bait  to  lure  Prince 
Menna  to  his  bitter  doom!  It  reaches  Hanit 's 
hands  this  very  night  1  Verily,  what  said  that 


224        Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

sage  of  old,  Imhotep?  'Love  is  the  greatest  ally 
of  the  gods!'  " 

Trembling  with  suppressed  excitement  the 
old  magician  rose.  He  placed  a  caressing  hand 
upon  the  head  of  the  little  Princess  and  de 
parted  somewhat  abruptly,  leaving  her  to 
marvel  at  the  miraculous  escape  of  her  former 
mistress  and  to  speculate  as  to  the  nature  of 
Hanit 's  vengeance  upon  Menna. 

And  Menna?  Not  long  after  Enana  had  left 
the  little  Princess  the  overjoyed  Menna  felt 
that  he  could,  at  last,  afford  to  ignore  the  reports 
brought  in  by  Bar  and  his  other  spies.  Menna 
no  longer  feared  the  existence  of  an  understand 
ing  between  Renny  and  the  little  Princess.  A 
note  from  Sesen,  a  note  most  tenderly  inscribed, 
rested  at  the  moment  between  Menna 's  thumb 
and  forefinger.  He  smiled  as  he  placed  the  note 
to  his  lips.  He  inhaled  the  perfume  of  myrrh- 
paste,  where  Sesen 's  fingers  had  touched  the 
smooth  papyrus.  Sesen  the  Haughty,  Sesen  the 
Unapproachable,  Sesen  whom  the  great  Ramses 
loved,  had  yielded  to  his  attentions  and  passion- 


The  Chairbearer  Stakes  His  All  225 

ate  appeals.  It  had  been  a  far  longer  siege  than 
usually  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  Overseer,  but,  at 
last,  the  usual  stream  of  presents,  poems,  and 
entreaties  had  done  its  work.  Sesen  had  agreed 
to  meet  him  amidst  the  ruins  near  Mentuho- 
tep's  shrine! 

"Mentuhotep's  shrine?  That  forgotten  ruin! 
An  extraordinary  place,"  mused  the  Prince. 
For  a  moment  he  doubted  the  missive;  a  hint 
of  suspicion  clouded  the  gleam  of  triumph 
which  glowed  in  his  eyes. 

Somewhat  thoughtfully  he  reread  the  note. 
The  next  he  had  stretched  his  jeweled  hand 
toward  a  little  bronze  mirror  which  rested  upon 
an  ivory  rack  at  his  elbow.  It  was  a  small 
mirror,  its  handle  a  maiden  standing  with  arms 
outstretched  as  if  to  support  the  disk  above. 

But  half  conscious  of  what  he  was  doing, 
Menna  gazed  at  his  handsome  features  as  re 
flected  in  the  burnished  oval  of  the  mirror. 
Slowly  his  features  relaxed.  He  smiled,  and, 
laying  down  the  mirror,  clapped  his  hands.  He 
gave  direction  to  the  obsequious  Syrian  who 


226       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

immediately  appeared,  that  Bentu,  chief  of  his 
chairbearers,  be  sent  to  him  immediately. 

Soon  after,  Bentu  left  his  master's  presence, 
his  face,  wreathed  in  smiles,  his  ivory  teeth 
flashing.  Bentu  walked  on  air,  he  could  hardly 
refrain  from  snapping  his  fingers  and  dancing 
his  joy  like  "the  curly-headed  ones,"  as  he 
hurried  down  the  quiet  corridors.  An  excur 
sion  such  as  his  master  planned  for  the  morrow 
customarily  ended  well  for  Bentu,  chief  of  the 
carriers. 

Throughout  the  long  night  following,  while 
Menna  tossed  upon  his  ivory-footed  couch, 
Bentu  gambled  away  his  last  worldly  posses 
sions. 

At  first  Bentu  lost  three  heifers  at  a  throw. 
Then  seven  sheep  went  to  Beq,  the  sculptor. 
Quickly  followed  the  loss  of  thirty  geese,  the 
two  gold  uten  which  encircled  his  wrist,  his 
hound  Antef,  and  finally,  most  prized  posses 
sion  of  all,  his  bright  blue  scarab-seal.  All 
passed  to  Beq,  the  sculptor. 

But  what  cared  Bentu,  the  Carrier!    In  his 


The  Chairbearer  Stakes  His  All  227 

master's  explicit  directions  as  to  clothes  for 
the  carriers,  as  to  food  and  drink,  Bentu 
scented  an  assignation.  The  new  hood  was  to 
be  put  on  the  carrying-chair.  It  was  a  beautiful 
hood,  made  of  the  finest  linen,  in  stripes  of 
green  and  gold.  A  love  affair  without  a  doubt ! 
There  was  a  woman  in  it,  and  women — as  Bentu 
knew  full  well — women  paid  well  for  messen 
gers  and — carriers! 

Bentu  curled  himself  up  in  a  corner  of  Beq's 
studio  and  went  promptly  to  sleep.  He  feared 
to  go  home ;  his  wife  might  ask  questions,  and 
Bentu  was  in  mortal  dread  of  Sebekmeryt  his 
Nubian  wife. 


CHAPTER  XVm 

WHAT  HAPPENED  WHEN  MENNA,  SON  OF  MENNA, 
WENT  A-WOOING 

THE   ruined   Shrine   of   Mentuhotep   lay 
somewhat  to  the  north  of  the  great  sand 
stone  mortuary-temple  of  Amenhotep  III. 
Fronting  it   stood  a   dwarf  pyramid   sur 
rounded  by  brightly-painted  columned  porticos. 
Far  to  the  south  stretched  Queen  Thi's  beauti 
ful  "pleasure  lake,"  which  seemed,  at  this  dis 
tance,  a  veritable  bowl  of  gold  rimmed  with 
emeralds.    The  glowing  walls  and  avenues  of 
stately  trees  which  marked  Queen  Hatshepsut's 
terraced  temple,  shut  it  in  toward  the  north. 
High  above,  and  seemingly  ever  in  danger  of 
crashing  down  upon  it,  towered  the  precipitous 
and  ever  crumbling  masses  of  the  purple  Lib 
yan  Hills. 

The  way  thither  led  along  the  Necropolis 
Eoute,  a  high-banked  road  which  passed  im- 

228 


Menna  Goes  A-wooing        229 

mediately  in  front  of  the  obelisks  and  twin 
statues  fronting  the  granite  threshold  of  Amen- 
hotep's  stupendous  mortuary-temple. 

At  this  season  of  the  year  the  wayfarer  might 
appreciate  the  full  height  of  the  waters  of  the 
inundation,  since  their  turgid  reaches  now 
swirled  about  the  walls  of  the  Eoyal  Palace  to 
the  south,  and  lapped  the  high  walls  of  Amen- 
hotep's  mortuary  temple  itself>  though  the 
latter 's  massive  walls  and  pylons  stood  well 
back  upon  the  edge  of  that  crescent-shaped 
strip  of  land  whose  upper  reaches  had  been  set 
apart  by  the  Thebans  from  time  immemorial, 
as  their  place  of  burial. 

This  late  afternoon  the  waters  flashed  like 
streams  of  fire  as  the  sun  sank  ever  lower,  ever 
more  rapidly  it  seemed,  toward  the  low  blue  line 
of  the  southern  hills  which  sheltered  Erment, 
city  of  the  falcon-headed  Wargod. 

The  arid  sand-drifts,  which  stretched  along 
the  lower  slopes  of  the  Theban  hills,  seemed 
composed  rather  of  snow  than  sand,  so  brilliant 
was  the  glare,  so  clear  the  atmosphere. 


230       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

Most  welcome  to  the  eye  were  the  villa- 
gardens  of  the  nobles,  with  their  deep  green 
groves  of  date  palm,  sycamore  and  acacia. 
Many  resembled  little  islands  that  seemed  to 
float  upon  the  flashing  waters. 

But  neither  desert  glare  nor  flashing  water 
could  detain  Prince  Menna.  Within  the  hour 
Atum,  the  evening  sun,  would  sink  below  the 
southern  hills;  the  cool  north  breeze  would 
spring  up,  as  was  its  custom. 

Menna 's  chair-bearers  had  stood  before  his 
villa  door  an  hour  ahead  of  time.  Bentu,  their 
chief,  placed  his  hands  upon  his  heart  and 
gazed  heavenward,  simulating  the  ardent  lover. 
Another  love-affair,  without  a  doubt. 

Such  missions  meant  uten,  necklaces  or 
rings;  a  spree  at  Hentiu's  at  any  rate,  and 
Bentu  loved  the  very  sight  of  a  bursting  wine 
skin! 

Bentu 's  speculations  were  interrupted  by  the 
sudden  appearance  of  the  door-keeper.  With  a 
knowing  wink  at  Bentu  the  latter  obsequiously 
bowed,  as  Menna  strode  through  the  curtained 
door. 


Menna  Goes  A-wooing       231 

Another  moment  and  Menna,  Superintendent 
of  the  King's  estates,  high  above  the  shoulders 
of  six  stalwart  Nubians,  was  borne  swiftly 
along  the  highway  which  led  to  the  northern 
end  of  the  curving  Theban  Plain. 

Taking  his  cue  from  the  gorgeous  costume 
scarcely  concealed  beneath  his  master's  fringed 
and  brightly  colored  Syrian  cloak,  Bentu 
launched  into  one  of  Ata's  love-songs.  His 
grinning  comrades  punctuated  each  verse  with 
a  staccato  "ha-ha,  o-ay!" 

Menna  sank  back  against  his  cushions;  he 
smiled.  It  pleased  him  that  this  black  shadow 
of  his  had  divined  his  mission.  Nay,  Menna 
felt  himself  so  at  peace  with  the  world  that  he 
gave  command  to  allow  a  peasant's  all  too- 
heavily  laden  donkey  to  pass  unchallenged,  an 
unheard  of  proceeding  on  the  part  of  a  Theban 
noble ! 

Bentu 's  hopes  rose.  Under  such  circum 
stances  all  things  were  possible.  He  might  re 
ceive  a  jeweled  necklace,  golden  bars;  a  small 
farm,  perhaps. 

Indeed,    Bentu 's    expectations    assumed    so 


232       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

rosy  an  aspect,  that  he  broke  into  a  dance, 
clapping  his  hands  or  snapping  his  fingers  in 
time  to  his  leapings  and  posturings,  quite  in 
the  manner  of  the  Nubians,  the  curly-headed 
people  to  the  south. 

With  the  sudden  disappearance  of  the  swol 
len  sun-disk  behind  the  deep  blue  hills  of 
Erment,  song  and  dance  abruptly  ceased. 
Menna  indicated  that  he  would  descend  from 
his  chair,  and  all,  master  and  men  together, 
addressed  a  short  prayer  for  the  success  of  the 
Sun-god  in  his  ceaseless  conflict  with  Apep, 
Fiend  of  Darkness. 

Piety  was  a  habit  with  Menna,  as  with  Bentu 
and  the  rest. 

This  done,  once  more  Henna's  chair  swung 
along  the  high  embankment.  Once  again  the 
warning  shouts  or  blows  from  the  forked  staff 
of  Bentu  kept  the  narrow  way  free. 

Arrived  before  the  tree-set  entrance  to  the 
Temple  of  Thothmes,  Menna  left  his  servants 
and  continued  westward,  past  Amenhotep  the 
Second's  temple,  on  foot.  Soon  his  tall  figure 


Menna  Goes  A-wooing       233 

was  lost  among  the  groves  of  cedars,  karobs 
and  acacias  with  which  the  tomb  precincts  of 
the  nobles  Senmut.  Ra,  and  Rekmara,  were 
thickly  planted. 

Passing  the  great  monument  of  the  architect 
Senmut,  from  which  vantage  point  the  great 
cedar  which  marked  the  tomb  precinct  of  his 
father  and  mother  was  visible,  Menna  turned 
towards  the  yellow  terraces  of  Hatshepsut's 
ivory-columned  temple.  To  the  left,  he  could 
already  distinguish  the  little  pyramid  and  the 
terraced  colonades  of  the  Mentuhotep  Shrine, 
near  which  was  the  spot  he  sought.  A  few  min 
utes  more  and  he  had  crossed  the  ruined  fore 
court  of  that  ancient  king's  memorial  shrine. 

For  a  moment  Menna  looked  about  him.  He 
consulted  a  memorandum  which  he  took  from 
his  jeweled  belt.  Then  again,  with  an  antici 
patory  smile,  he  ascended  to  the  highest  terrace 
and  suddenly  vanished  into  a  dark  opening 
which  seemed  to  lead  into  the  very  face  of  the 
stupendous  cliffs  which  towered  above. 

Menna  was  soon  in  total  darkness.    He  felt 


234       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

himself  descending  a  long,  narrow  passage-way 
pitched  at  a  very  steep  incline.  He  must  have 
gone  some  two  hundred  paces  when  he  felt, 
rather  than  saw  the  glow  of  a  light.  Soon  he 
could  distinguish  the  polished  surface  of  the 
granite  slabs  with  which  the  narrow  walls  were 
faced. 

All  was  well !    The  Princess  awaited  him ! 

Standing  in  the  opening  of  the  doorway, 
Menna  softly  spoke  her  name.  The  Princess 
did  not  answer,  but  stood  well  back  within  the 
shadows  of  an  alabaster  naos,  a  shrine  which, 
centuries  before,  had  held  a  statue  of  the  deified 
king,  Mentuhotep.  At  the  right  he  saw  a  dark 
and  narrow  doorway  in  which  were  visible  a 
few  ascending  steps  cut  in  the  rock. 

The  slim  figure  of  the  Princess  was  concealed 
beneath  a  long  Memphite  cloak.  She  appeared 
not  to  have  heard  his  greeting. 

Again  Menna  softly  called  her  name: 
"Sesen!  My  Lily,  My  Lotus!  Behold  thy 
lover,  0  Daughter  of  Hathor!" 

Still  the  figure  was  silent.    Smilingly  Menna 


Menna  Goes  A-wooing       235 

drew  near;  he  understood.  With  a  wealth  of 
flattering  phrases  on  his  lips,  he  sought  to  catch 
her  to  him.  As  he  did  so,  the  figure  turned,  and 
revealed  to  his  astounded  gaze  the  burning  eyes 
of  Hanit,  of  Hanit  the  former  Queen ! 

Yet,  Hanit  was  dead!  He  had  seen  her  em 
balmed  body  laid  away  in  her  rock-hewn  tomb ! 

With  a  hoarse  and  inarticulate  cry  Menna 
turned  and  fled.  'Twas  the  visible  Jca  of  the 
outraged  queen,  'twas  Hanit 's  vindictive 
double!  Nay,  it  'twas  Hanit  herself,  whose 
mummified  form  he  himself  had  seen,  what  time 
Huy,  the  Great  High  Priest,  had  performed  the 
last  rites,  with  the  ceremonial  opening  of  the 
eyes,  the  ears,  the  mouth !  Had  not  he  himself 
placed  a  wreath  upon  her  well-swathed  form, 
and  thereafter  seen  the  coffin  lowered  in  her 
rock-hewn  tomb? 

As  Menna  stumbled  up  the  steep  incline  of 
the  rock-hewn  passage,  black  horror  seized 
upon  him;  a  paralyzing  terror  rose  from  his 
throbbing  heart  and  mounted  to  his  numbed 
brain.  He  tore  the  heavy  gold  chains  and  the 


236       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

jeweled  wesekli  from  his  throat.  He  felt  that 
he  was  choking. 

"  Breath  of  Ra!  The  doorway,  air,  light,  the 
blessed  daylight  I" 

As  Menna  groped  his  way  up  the  passage  he 
heard  in  front  of  him,  a  dull  thud  as  of  some 
heavy  falling  body.  For  a  moment  his  head 
long  flight  was  arrested.  The  solid  rock  be 
neath  his  feet  seemed  to  tremble.  He  rushed  up 
the  last  few  yards  of  the  narrow  corridor  and 
came  suddenly  in  violent  contact  with  an  im 
movable  block  of  polished  granite. 

A  cold  perspiration  burst  out  upon  his  fore 
head  ;  his  knees  trembled  beneath  him.  He  was 
trapped. 

The  overseer  made  a  last  attempt  to  think 
clearly.  For  a  few  moments  he  succeeded  in 
stifling  the  terror  that  gripped  his  heart. 

Menna  carefully  felt  the  walls  over  and  over 
again  to  left,  to  right,  in  front!  Not  a  crack 
nor  a  crevice.  Always  that  granite  door !  In  an 
agony  of  fear  Menna  hurled  himself  against  it. 
Hft  shrieked,  he  raved,  he  cursed. 


Menna  Goes  A-wooing       237 

Finally  the  Overseer,  no  longer  human, 
turned  and  crept  back  along  the  granite 
passage-way.  The  dust  of  centuries  rose  into 
his  throat  and  filled  his  lungs.  Its  fine,  impal 
pable  particles  got  into  his  eyes.  The  drop 
pings  of  innumerable  bats  covered  his  robes; 
his  scented  wig  had  fallen  from  his  head. 

Slowly  Menna  scrambled  down  the  passage, 
now  in  a  crouching  position,  now  on  all  fours. 
His  blood-red  eyes  gleamed  in  the  gloomy  ob 
scurity  like  those  of  a  savage  panther  of  the 
south.  Blood  trickled  slowly  from  his  inflamed 
nostrils ;  his  lips  were  drawn  far  back  upon  the 
gums,  as  if  he  snarled. 

Menna  stood  again  in  the  shrine-chamber. 
The  light  still  flickered  along  its  granite  sides, 
upon  the  ivory-toned  naos  and  the  figures  and 
hieroglyphs  with  which  it  was  decorated.  The 
prince  gazed  wildly  about  him.  Even  the  pon 
derous  inner  door  had  now  swung  into  place. 

Stretching  out  his  bleeding  hands  he  ap 
proached  the  huge  shrine.  He  would  cast  him 
self  upon  the  mercy  of  Hanit's  vengeful  spirit, 


238       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

for  by  now  Menna  was  long  past  fear  of  has 
or  has,  of  "ghosts"  or  "doubles!"  He  called 
her  name  as,  with  outstretched  hands  he  shuffled 
hesitatingly  towards  the  shrine. 

Hanit  had  vanished ! 

With  a  low  moan  Menna  crumpled  up  and 
pitched  headlong  at  the  foot  of  the  shrine. 
Above  his  head  the  light  brightened  for  an  in 
stant,  then  slowly  sank  and,  suddenly,  vanished. 
Once  again  the  painted  forms  of  gods  and 
demons  alone  reigned  supreme  amidst  the  fetid 
heat  and  darkness. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

THE  HITTITES  ADVANCE 

PHARAOH'S  recently  completed  City  of 
the  Sun  stretched  at  some  length  along 
both  sides  of  the  Nile,  about  sixty  miles 
north  of  the  ancient  city  of  Siut,  sacred  to  the 
Wolf-god. 

To-day,  fronting  its  white  quay,  a  fleet  of 
barges  swung  idly  at  anchor.  From  the  high 
poop  of  one,  a  large  temple-barge  by  its  decora 
tion,  Merira,  High  Priest  of  Aton,  was  about  to 
disembark.  At  the  landward  end  of  its  gang 
plank,  which  had  been  stretched  to  the  well-built 
limestone  wall  of  the  quay,  a  knot  of  white-robed 
priests  of  Aton  bowed  a  fawning  welcome 
to  their  portly  brother  hierophant.  Sixteen 
stalwart  lay-brothers  stood  expectantly  beside 
the  dignitary's  hooded-chair.  Soon,  Merira, 
High  Priest  of  Aton,  high  above  the  gleaming 

239 


240       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

heads  of  his  chanting  followers,  vanished  down 
the  avenue  of  criosphinxes  which  led  toward  the 
massive  pylons  of  the  imposing  Aton  Temple. 

Parallel  with  the  well-planted  gardens  and 
vineyards  of  the  Temple  of  the  Sun  ran  the 
northern  wall  of  Pharaoh's  new  palace.  The 
southern  wall  divided  it  from  the  gardens  which 
hedged  in  the  home  of  the  General  Mei,  a 
favorite  of  Pharaoh.  Both  the  grounds  about 
the  Aton  Temple,  the  palace,  villa,  and  library 
of  Pharaoh  and  the  house  of  Mei,  ran  backward 
from  the  Nile  bank  to  the  first  rise  of  the  low 
hills  to  the  east. 

Pharaoh's  gardens,  both  of  villa,  library  and 
palace,  were  already  thickly  planted  with  the 
rarest  of  native  trees  and  vines,  but  myrrh, 
sandalwood,  dom-palm  and  young  Lebanus 
cedar  from  the  terraces,  might  be  seen  both  in 
the  gardens  of  the  monarch  and  in  those  of  his 
favorites. 

At  this  moment  the  huge  limestone  palace 
glowed  in  the  heat  of  midafternoon  like  a  piece 
of  painted  ivory.  The  sun's  rays  turned  to  fire 


The  Hittites  Advance         241 

the  gold  caps  of  the  lofty  cedar  flag-posts  which 
towered  above  the  walls. 

At  the  end  of  a  long  avenue  of  young  acacias 
one  could  distinguish  the  archers-of-the-guard, 
as  they  paced  to  and  fro  before  the  palace 
gates.  A  pair  of  Syrian  horses,  harnessed  to  a 
light  chariot,  pawed  the  sandstone  flagging 
before  the  entrance-pylon,  or  reared  high  in 
air,  did  the  iron-wristed  katana  show  the  least 
sign  of  relaxing  his  grip  upon  the  gilded  reins. 

Queen  Noferith  was  about  to  visit  the  hillset 
tomb  of  one  of  her  daughters,  who  had  died 
shortly  after  the  royal  family  had  taken  up  its 
residence  in  the  new  city.  The  royal-nurse, 
Thuya,  and  the  three  sisters  of  the  dead  Prin 
cess,  were  already  well  on  their  way  to  the 
tomb,  bearing  offerings  of  food,  flowers  and 
cosmetics  for  the  use  of  the  Jca. 

Within  the  interior  of  the  palace,  Pharaoh 
was  busily  engaged  with  that  corpulent  official, 
the  chief-scribe,  Enei.  At  the  moment  Enei 
was  squatting  cross-legged  among  the  reeds 
and  water-fowl  painted  upon  the  stucco  floor  of 


242       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

the  room.  Upon  his  kilted  knees  lay  the  open 
sheet  of  a  long  leather-roll  already  closely 
written  in  red  and  black  with  lines  of  deftly  in 
scribed  hieratic. 

Enei  held  a  long  reed  pen  in  one  hand ;  two 
others  stuck  out  behind  his  elephantine  ears. 
He  had  been  occupied  all  morning  transcribing 
from  Pharaoh's  own  lips  the  "Hymn  to  Aton," 
which  for  weeks  had  engrossed  his  fanatical 
master. 

Famine  and  pestilence  at  home,  revolt  in 
Nubia,  new  mutterings  of  trouble  along  the 
Asiatic  frontier,  one  and  all  had  to  give  place 
now  to  the  completion  of  this  Sun-hymn,  and 
the  ritual  of  the  Aton  cult. 

The  ritual  had  already  been  chanted  in  the 
Temple  of  the  Sun.  Indeed,  it  had  been  intoned 
for  the  first  time  in  a  little  chapel  erected 
among  the  now  well-nigh  deserted  temples  of 
Amen  at  Karnak.  Here  was  bitter  hearing  for 
the  exiled  priest  of  Amen ! 

Pharaoh  was  extremely  anxious  to  hear  the 
High  Priest  Merira  chant  his  "Hymn  to  the 
Sun,"  a  composition  which  Pharaoh  had  writ- 


The  Hittites  Advance         243 

ten  for  the  express  use  of  the  Priests  of  the 
Temple  of  Aton.  In  order  to  finish  the  hymn 
Pharaoh  had  shut  himself  up  in  his  library 
with  orders  that  on  no  account  should  he  be 
disturbed.  Ambassadors,  envoys,  nobles  of  the 
empire,  spies  and  messengers,  all  must  wait 
who  sought  an  audience  of  the  engrossed  mon 
arch. 

But  a  few  moments  before,  Pentu,  Chief 
Court  Physician,  had  backed  from  his  master's 
presence,  loaded  down  with  chains  and  brace 
lets  of  gold. 

Pentu  had  gained  some  real  or  fancied  as 
cendancy  over  Enei  the  Scribe  in  a  heated 
argument  as  to  a  probable  connection  between 
the  sun-god  Ba  of  Heliopolis,  Aton,  and  Adon, 
the  Syrian  God  of  Fertility.  Pentu 's  bald  head 
glistened  like  the  mirror  clasped  in  the  hand 
of  his  waiting  daughter.  Pentu 's  broad  smile 
widened,  if  indeed  that  might  be,  as  his  waiting 
servants  hurled  themselves  into  the  dust  at 
sight  of  his  gleaming  decorations,  those  "gifts 
which  the  king  bestows." 

"What  stiff  campaign  hath  earned  such  rich 


244       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

rewards  T ' '  asks  the  travel-worn  Eabba,  messen 
ger  of  Eibaddi,  one  of  Egypt 's  vassals  in  Asia. 

*  *  Peace,  peace,  soldier !  Hold  thy  tongue,  fit 
but  to  frighten  lousy  Sand-dwellers!  Hast 
thou  not  heard?  Egypt  hath  done  with  war! 
Corn  grows  upon  our  spearshaf ts,  boys  swim  in 
our  shields;  our  curved  swords  cut  wheat  and 
spelt,  our  slings  kill  reed-birds.  The  'gifts  of 
Majesty'  now  reach  priests,  poets  and  potters. 
Breath  of  Ea — ahem — Aton,  I  should  have  said, 
a  soldier  now  must  stand  aside  that  shaven- 
headed  sucklings  from  the  new  religious  school 
may  pass!  Amemet  seize  me!  Five  hours' 
waiting  is  enough  for  me !  Honors  to  thy  son's 
son,"  and  the  officer  passes  out. 

Some  three  hours  later,  Eibbadi's  urgent  call 
for  assistance,  that  small  clay  tablet  upon 
whose  safe  and  speedy  deliverance  into  the 
hands  of  the  Egyptian  king  hung  the  fate  of 
Syria,  Eibaddi 's  last  despairing  cry  for  help, 
still  rested  in  its  metal  tube  about  the  impatient 
Eabba 's  neck. 

Tired  of  his  long  vigil,  Eabba  had  addressed 


The  Hittites  Advance         245 

a  few  somewhat  pointed  remarks  in  the  direc 
tion  of  the  painted  ceiling,  but  intended  for  the 
large  ears  of  Senab  the  Court  Usher.  As  a  not 
unnatural  sequel,  another  moment  found  him 
on  the  wrong  side  of  the  palace  door. 

From  the  threshold  of  the  court-yard  two 
giggling  pages  made  the  infuriated  Eabba  mock 
bows  and  salutations  in  the  Syrian  manner. 

Thereafter,  Kabba  wandered  aimlessly  about 
and  finally  disappeared  behind  the  deep  red 
curtains  which  blew  in  and  out  of  Thethi's 
tavern-door. 

The  following  morning,  Eabba  awoke  to  find 
himself  seated  upon  the  edge  of  a  wine-stained 
couch.  In  one  hand  he  clasped  a  faded  spray  of 
mimosa.  He  pulled  a  chaplet  of  dried  and 
blackened  lotus-flowers  from  his  aching  head. 
Not  a  bar  remained  about  his  arms,  not  a 
strand  of  beads  flashed  upon  his  massive  chest. 
Neith,  a  full-lipped  Theban  dancer,  had  them 
all! 

Eabba 'a  hand  went  to  his  throat  hesitatingly, 
despairingly.  The  case  that  had  held  his 


246       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

master's  message,  his  credentials  and  his 
master's  seal,  all  had  vanished  with  that  velvet- 
eyed  traitress. 

Ten  days  ago  should  the  precious  letter  have 
been  added  to  the  thousands  of  clay  tablets 
which  lined  the  alcoves  of  Pharaoh's  library 
and  registry.  Ten  days  ago,  Eabba  the  Mes 
senger  should  have  been  well  on  his  way  back 
to  Gebal,  his  hillset  station,  with  Pharaoh's 
reply. 

Alas!  At  the  moment,  Eibaddi 's  devoted 
city  lay  a  mass  of  smouldering  ruins,  in  the 
midst  of  which  were  scattered  the  ashes  of 
Eibaddi,  Pharaoh's  most  loyal  vassal,  his  fam 
ily,  and  those  of  the  entire  squadron  of  Baal, 
to  which  the  unhappy  Eabba  himself  belonged. 
Feeling  that  the  Egyptian  monarch  had  lulled 
himself  into  a  sense  of  security,  the  hosts  of  the 
Khabiri  and  Hittites,  headed  by  Eimur  of  Char- 
chemish  and  the  kings  of  Kadesh  and  Megiddo, 
had  suddenly  swooped  upon  the  territory  of 
Pharaoh's  Syrian  vassal,  Eibaddi  the  Loyal. 


CHAPTER  XX 
How  BAB  AND  RENNY  MEET  FOB  THE  LAST  TIME 

REFLECTED  in  the  quiet  reaches  of  the 
Nile,  a  brilliant  planet  hung,  like  a  silver 
ball,  in  the  green  and  gold  of  Egypt's 
long-continued  afterglow.     Below  it  Aah,  the 
pale  young  moon,  seemed  as  if  it  sought  to  catch 
that  scintillating  jewel  in  the  hollow  of  its  cres 
cent  cup. 

The  evening's  stillness  was  broken  at  inter 
vals  by  the  snarls  of  marauding  hyenas,  the 
barks  of  jackals  and  the  hooting  of  the  little 
golden-brown  owls  which  haunted  the  over 
hanging  eaves  of  the  massive  Temple  of 
Khonsu. 

Dusky  forms  stole  stealthily  along  the  nar 
row  alleys  of  the  half-deserted  city  of  Thebes. 
As  they  hurried  past,  the  paling  afterglow  re 
flected  upon  the  low  white  walls  caused  their 

247 


248        Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

nodding  shadows  to  appear  unnaturally  en 
larged,  menacing,  terrifying. 

Within  Benny's  workshop  the  more  im 
mediate  shadows  were  at  times  revealed  by  the 
light  from  a  deep  bronze  bowl,  a  brazier  filled 
with  glowing  incense-wood.  The  bowl  stood 
upon  a  low  stand  immediately  in  front  of 
Benny's  statue  of  the  Princess  Sesen. 

Once  again  relieved  of  its  encircling  ropes 
and  mattings,  the  beautiful  statue  of  the  Prin 
cess  stood  revealed  in  all  its  grace  and  freedom. 
Following  Henna's  sudden  and  mysterious  dis 
appearance  Benny  had  come  again  to  his  work 
shop  to  claim  the  statue  which  was  his.  The 
little  crocodile  amulet  at  his  throat  had,  indeed, 
saved  him  from  Bar's  murderous  attack.  Bar 
himself  felt  this  to  be  a  fact. 

In  the  center  of  the  room  stood  the  Princess 
herself.  Her  gaze  was  fixed  upon  the  statue 
with  a  mingled  expression  of  awe,  pride  and  de 
light.  At  her  feet  knelt  Benny  the  sculptor, 
his  upturned  face  transfigured. 

Bhanar,    trembling    with    fear,    frequently 


Last  Meeting  of  Bar  and  Renny  249 

opened  the  door  and  gazed  anxiously,  impa 
tiently  it  seemed,  down  the  length  of  the  garden 
path.  As  she  slipped  to  the  lock  the  broken 
seals  tapped  softly  against  the  wooden  panels. 

Why  so  impatient,  Bhanar?  Why  that  gleam 
of  hatred  in  those  eyes,  ever  so  gentle,  ever  so 
beautiful,  as  they  rest  upon  the  figure  of  thy 
mistress? 

To  account  for  Bhanar  *s  attitude,  we  must 
revert  once  more  to  Bar,  servant  to  Menna. 
All  unwitting  of  his  master's  horrible  fate,  Bar 
had  set  spies  about  the  Princess.  He  engaged 
a  servant  attached  to  the  villa  to  report  day  by 
day  the  doings  of  the  little  Princess,  hoping  to 
surprise  her  in  some  unguarded  evidence  of 
affection  for  the  infatuated  Benny.  He  himself 
sought  and  gained  the  confidence  of  the  jealous 
Bhanar. 

The  beautiful  slave-girl,  now  envenomed  by 
a  sudden  jealousy  of  her  mistress,  confided  to 
the  sympathetic  Bar  a  note  which  Benny  had 
bribed  Baquit,  the  Gate-Keeper,  to  deliver  to 
the  Princess.  Bhanar,  after  many  a  vain  at- 


250       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

tempt,  had  managed  to  abstract  it  from  her 
mistress's  ebony  jewel-box. 

In  return  for  this,  the  overjoyed  Bar  had 
promised  her  that  this  very  night  should  see 
Sesen  and  Benny  parted  forever. 

Thus  it  happened,  that  when,  towards  sun 
down,  Sesen  commanded  Bhanar  to  get  her  long 
Memphite  cloak  for  an  outing  in  the  gardens, 
Bhanar  trembled  with  anticipation.  She  barely 
glanced  at  the  ducks,  the  gazelle's  hearts,  the 
Delta  wine  and  the  lotus-seed  bread,  which 
composed  the  evening  meal.  The  meal  being 
over  and  the  low  tabourets  removed,  Prince 
Wozer,  Sesen 's  father,  was  carried  off  upon 
the  shoulders  of  six  chair-bearers  in  the  direc 
tion  of  the  Theban  cemetery.  It  was  the  an 
niversary  of  the  death  of  a  life-long  friend  and, 
as  had  been  his  habit,  he  himself  would  light  the 
first  torch  preparatory  to  the  service  held  in  the 
dead  man's  honor,  he  with  his  own  hands  would 
place  the  gifts  of  food  and  drink  upon  the 
offering-table  of  the  dead  noble's  tomb.  For 
the  last  five  years  Prince  Wozer  had  thus  acted 
the  part  of  &a-servant  to  Surera  the  Justified. 


Last  Meeting  of  Bar  and  Renny  251 

When  once  the  long  procession  of  offering- 
bearers  which  regularly  accompanied  her 
father  on  such  occasions  was  well  on  its  way, 
Sesen  and  Bhanar  descended  into  the  palace 
gardens. 

Arrived  at  a  little  postern  gate  which  con 
nected  with  the  villa-garden  of  Thi's  favorite, 
the  unhappy  Menna,  the  Princess  pushed  back 
the  barlock,  and  both  passed  through.  Another 
moment  and  they  had  entered  the  dimly-lit 
room  of  Renny 's  former  workshop. 

All  unsuspecting  of  Bhanar 's  treachery, 
Sesen  had  placed  the  little  slave  at  the  door  to 
watch.  Bhanar 's  heart  beat  so  violently  that  it 
well-nigh  suffocated  her.  A  glimpse  of  her  mis 
tress  reaching  out  her  fingers  toward  the  statue, 
her  mistress'  other  self,  struck  suddenly  a 
tardy  repentance  into  the  very  soul  of  the 
despairing  slave-girl. 

Suddenly  Bhanar  started.  Three  figures  had 
turned  into  the  narrow  garden-path  and  were 
rapidly  approaching.  In  the  foremost  of  the 
three  Bhanar  recognized  Bar  the  Memphite. 
Henna's  former  spy  was  speaking  in  loud  tones 


252        Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

and  violently  gesticulating  as  lie  hurried  the 
others  up  the  path.  Two  archers  of  Prince 
Wozer's  guard  strode  behind  him. 

Forgetful  of  herself,  her  jealousy  and  treach 
ery,  Bhanar  shrieked  aloud;  "Benny!  My 
Benny!  Bar  is  here,  Henna's  spy!  Fly,  while 
there  is  yet  time!" 

At  her  first  words,  Eenny  leaped  to  the  door. 
A  glance  showed  him  his  old  enemy.  Who 
could  have  betrayed  them? 

Hardly  knowing  what  he  would  do,  he  drew 
the  Princess  down  behind  the  festooned  pedes 
tal,  covering  her  at  the  same  time  with  its 
heavy  wreaths  and  flowers. 

Even  as  he  paused,  rapidly  scanning  the 
effect,  the  outer  door  was  burst  violently  open 
and  the  giant  Bar  pushed  headlong  into  the 
room. 

In  the  doorway,  looming  large  against  the 
afterglow,  Kenny  beheld  the  sturdy  forms  of 
the  two  archers. 

Bar  shot  a  hasty  glance  at  the  statue,  then 
ripped  out  an  oath:  "Dog,  son  of  a  dog,  the 
Princess.  Where  is  she  T ' ' 


Last  Meeting  of  Bar  and  Renny  253 

With  a  smile  upon  his  pale  face,  Benny 
slowly  raised  his  hand  and  pointed  to  the 
statue.  Then  suddenly  as  Bar  turned,  he  sprang 
straight  at  the  Memphite  and  struck,  alas,  in 
vain,  for  his  dagger  broke  short  off  against 
Bar's  hidden  leather  corslet. 

Realizing  that  his  last  moment  had  come, 
Eenny  slowly  drew  his  long  Asiatic  sleeve 
across  his  bowed  head.  Motionless,  he  an 
ticipated  the  arrow  that  trembled  between  the 
thumb  and  forefinger  of  one  of  the  guardsmen 
who,  at  his  sudden  attack  upon  the  Memphite, 
had  moved  up  into  the  room. 

The  twang  of  the  bow  thrummed  in  his  ears, 
and,  with  it,  a  choking  sob  and  the  thud  of  a 
falling  body. 

Quickly  Eenny  threw  aside  the  light  covering 
from  his  face,  dreading  what  his  trembling  heart 
too  truly  warned  him  he  should  see.  With  a 
cry  of  agony  he  dropped  beside  the  limp  body 
of  the  dead  Bhanar.  Gently  he  lifted  her  head, 
scanned  her  face,  breathed  her  name.  In  vain ! 
Too  well  had  Wenamon's  arrow  done  its  work! 


254       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

A  few  red  feathers  and  an  inch  of  reed  showed 
just  above  the  white  robe  of  his  little  country 
woman.  The  rest  of  the  long  shaft  was  buried 
in  her  breast. 

Benny  rose  slowly  to  his  feet.  His  gaze 
swept  the  terrified  archers  to  the  threshold  of 
the  door.  With  a  roar  like  that  of  some  south 
ern  panther  maddened  with  its  wounds,  once 
more  he  hurled  himself  upon  the  treacherous 
Bar. 

His  onslaught  hurled  the  dagger  from  the 
nerveless  hand  of  the  horror-struck  Memphite. 
For  that  worthy  stood  gazing,  as  if  fascinated, 
at  the  upturned  face  of  the  dead  Bhanar. 

They  grappled,  tripped  and  fell,  rolling  over 
and  over,  now  one  seeming  to  gain  the  mastery, 
now  the  other.  Above  their  writhing  forms  the 
archers  awaited  their  opportunity. 

Kneeling  at  the  base  of  the  pedestal  the  terri 
fied  little  Princess  alone  made  outcry,  sending 
out  upon  the  still  evening  air  shriek  upon 
shriek,  intermingled  with  peals  of  frenzied 
laughter. 


Last  Meeting  of  Bar  and  Renny  255 

A  slight  lessening  of  the  grip  and  Kenny's 
powerful  hand  stole  towards  Bar's  jeweled 
throat.  A  snap,  a  quiver  of  the  big  limbs  and 
the  Memphite  lay  motionless. 

Eenny  staggered  like  a  drunken  man  to  his 
feet.  Stealthily  Wenamon  the  archer  ap 
proached,  with  somewhat  of  the  caution  with 
which  one  might  beard  a  wounded  lion  in  its 
den.  His  bow  had  been  cast  aside.  A  dagger 
gleamed  in  his  raised  hand. 

Benny's  swaying  figure  lurched  heavily 
towards  the  statue  of  the  Princess,  to  the  base 
of  which  the  Princess  herself  still  clung.  As 
his  fingers  gripped  its  flower-festooned  base, 
Wenamon 's  dagger  flashed. 

Eenny  suddenly  straightened  himself.  His 
bloodshot  eyes  sought  those  of  the  Princess, 
who  stood  rooted  to  the  spot. 

*  *  Sesen !  Sesen, ' '  he  cried,  and  fell  dead  at  her 
feet. 


CHAPTER  XXI 
OP  THE  CAPTURE  OP  BELTJR,  THE  HITTITE 

THE  city  of  Kadesh  lay  gleaming  in  the 
evening  sunlight  at  the  upper  end  of  that 
vast  plain  which  stretched  northward  to 
the  Lake  Country.    As  viewed  from  Shabtuna, 
where  the  Egyptian  army  was  now  encamped, 
it  seemed  a  veritable  city  of  towers. 

Along  the  eastern  front  of  this  Asiatic  city 
the  waters  of  the  Orontes  glittered  like  a 
straight  Hittite  sword.  The  high,  machicolated 
gate-towers,  on  the  eastern  side,  were  ap 
proached  by  a  causeway  and  a  broad  flight  of 
stone  steps.  Protected  by  a  white  wall  on 
either  side,  these  steps  rose  from  the  very 
waters  of  the  turgid  Orontes  itself. 

The  city  towers  were  black  with  people, 
frenzied  women  for  the  most  part.  Their  pierc 
ing  shrieks,  now  of  exultation,  now  of  despair, 
floated  out  upon  the  flashing  waters  of  the  broad 

256 


Of  the  Capture  of  Belur      257 

river.  The  sounds  reached  the  ears  of  Ramses, 
the  Egyptian  general,  where  he  stood. 

Along  the  city  walls  youths  and  old  men 
peered  anxiously  southward,  across  the  level 
plain.  Men,  women  and  children  stood  with 
faces  glued  to  the  openings  which  capped  the 
city  walls. 

The  eyes  of  the  people  of  Kadesh  were 
riveted  upon  the  ebb  and  flow  of  a  gigantic  con 
flict,  which  had  raged  throughout  the  day  back 
and  forth  across  the  broad  reaches  of  the  plain 
below. 

The  mighty  hosts  of  the  Hittites,  led  by  Eimur 
of  Charchemish  in  person,  had  struggled  since 
daybreak  with  the  forces  of  Egypt. 

The  battle  had  opened  auspiciously  for  the 
Hittites,  though  the  ninth  of  Khoiak  was  a 
favorable  day  alike  to  Egyptian  and  Hittite. 
To  the  Egyptians  it  meant  that  the  very  gods 
would  lend  their  aid  in  the  conflict,  for  was  not 
this  the  day  in  which  the  god  Thoth  gained  his 
memorable  victory  over  Set ! 

Yet,  so  far,  matters  had  gone  badly  for  the 


258        Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

Egyptians.  The  Division  of  Sutekh,  led  by  old 
Noferhotep,  had  been  surprised  at  the  ford 
near  Shabtuna,  and  cut  to  pieces.  Noferhotep 
himself  had  been  drowned  in  the  blood-red 
waters  and  his  body  had  not  been  recovered. 

Alas,  0  Noferhotep,  the  harpers  will  not  sing 
before  thy  silent  form ;  * '  the  feathered  dancers ' ' 
will  not  join  thy  funeral  dance ! 

It  appeared  that  the  spies  sent  out  by  the 
Egyptians  had  been  deceived  as  to  the  numerical 
superiority  of  the  Hittite  host.  An  unknown 
force  of  the  enemy  had  been  enabled  to  steal  up 
on  Noferhotep 's  infantry  as  it  crossed  the  ford. 

A  few  wounded  stragglers  from  this  unequal 
action  had  managed  to  reach  the  main  Egyptian 
camp,  where  their  distorted  accounts  of  the 
recent  disaster  well-nigh  caused  a  panic.  How 
ever,  at  this  juncture  the  arrival  of  Yankhamu 
with  a  division  of  Ethiopian  troops,  had  put 
new  heart  into  the  Egyptian  host. 

Thus,  then,  it  had  been  since  daybreak.  The 
tide  of  battle  had  leaned  now  toward  the  Hit 
tite,  now  toward  Egypt. 


Of  the  Capture  of  Belur      259 

The  main  affray  had  resolved  itself  into  a 
frontal  attack,  which  extended  right  across  the 
plain  to  the  very  foothills. 

The  Egyptian  chariots  had  endeavored  to  cut 
around  the  right  flank  of  the  enemy,  hoping  to 
drive  them  into  a  swamp  which  lay  to  the  south 
west. 

Across  the  broad  plains  serried  ranks  of  in 
fantry  pressed  to  the  attack.  The  reserves  of 
both  armies  were  now  brought  into  action. 
Thus  commenced  the  final  stage  of  the  conflict, 
a  last  desperate  onslaught  which  should,  once 
and  for  all,  decide  the  fate  of  one  of  the  two 
opposing  armies. 

The  non-combatants  high  upon  the  battle- 
mented  walls  of  Kadesh  broke  into  wild  shouts 
of  triumph,  as  the  right  wing  of  the  Egyptian 
army  was  seen  to  bend,  to  break  and,  finally,  to 
rush,  in  wildest  disorder,  towards  a  slight  curve 
in  the  Orontes  river  eastward.  A  mass  of  the 
howling  sons  of  Kheta  pressed  hard  upon  its 
heels. 

The  people  of  the  city  could  contain  them- 


260       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

selves  no  longer.  For  them  the  battle  was  as 
good  as  won.  The  youths  flew  down  to  the 
great  gates  which  opened  as  if  by  magic,  and  in 
another  moment  hot-footed  youth,  halting  old- 
age,  women  and  little  children  could  be  seen 
spreading  in  a  fan-shaped  wave  across  the 
dusty  expanse  which  separated  the  contending 
forces  from  the  city  walls. 

Suddenly,  from  behind  a  low  ridge  to  the 
westward,  there  appeared  a  long  line  of  two- 
horse  chariots.  In  the  center,  easily  recognized 
by  his  bright  red  leather  doublet  and  gilded 
war-bonnet,  stood  the  young  Egyptian  general, 
Eamses.  A  huge  Ethiopian  katana,  leaning 
well  out  over  the  leather  body  of  the  chariot, 
urged  on  Eamses'  horses  by  word  of  mouth 
and  lash  of  whip.  At  the  right  of  the  chariot 
bounded  a  lean  Nubian  panther. 

The  onrushing  chariots  aligned  themselves 
upon  that  of  their  young  and  impetuous  leader. 
With  ever  quickening  pace  the  long  line  swept 
across  the  well-nigh  deserted  right  flankj 
turned,  and  hurled  a  devastating  avalanche  of 


Of  the  Capture  of  Belur      261 

arrows  into  the  wavering  center  of  the  enemy's 
line. 

Without  pausing  an  instant  the  gleaming  line 
crashed  into  the  very  heart  of  the  Hittite  army. 
Thereafter  Charchemish,  Kadesh,  Megiddo,  On, 
Thebes  and  Napata,  were  mingled  in  an  in 
describable  whirl  of  choking  yellow  dust,  rear 
ing  and  screaming  horses,  yelling  and  cursing 
men,  and  flashing  weapons. 

The  right  flank  of  the  Egyptian  army,  which 
had  feinted  at  retreat,  now  turned  upon  its  pur 
suers.  Many  they  hurled  into  the  river ;  many 
they  slew  out  of  hand.  The  majority,  panic- 
stricken,  took  to  flight  in  the  direction  of  the 
city. 

Scenting  disaster,  Eimur,  King  of  Char- 
chemish,  fled  headlong  from  the  stricken  field. 
The  King  of  Kadesh  hurled  his  wounded  com 
panion,  Belur  the  Hittite,  from  his  chariot,  and 
urged  his  tired  horses  toward  the  southern 
gate. 

Seeing  their  King  take  to  flight,  the  forces  of 
Kadesh  broke.  One  and  all  followed  their  royal 


262       Hank:  the  Enchantress 

master  as  fast  as  chariot,  horse  or  limbs  could 
carry  them. 

In  a  moment  the  fleeing  soldiers  had  burst 
into  the  densely-massed  body  composed  of  their 
distracted  wives,  mothers,  grandsires  and  wail 
ing  children.  These  likewise  attempted  now  to 
turn  and  again  to  seek  shelter  within  the  city 
walls. 

There  ensued  a  state  of  indescribable  con 
fusion  in  which  terror  reigned  supreme.  And 
this  state  of  utter  panic  was  not  confined  to 
those  unfortunates  upon  the  plain,  but  com 
municated  itself  to  the  few  people  who  still  re 
mained  within  the  city.  Fearing  the  fury  of  the 
Egyptian  soldiers,  these  now  shut  and  barred 
the  ponderous  city  gates. 

There  followed  such  a  slaughter  of  the  miser 
able  sons  of  Kheta  as  had  not  been  witnessed 
in  the  Orontes  Valley  since  the  day  Great 
Thothmes  had  first  taken  Kadesh  by  assault. 

Fifteen  full  days  was  Pahura  the  Scribe  occu 
pied  in  listing  the  spoils  of  gilded  chariots, 
jeweled  breast-plates,  gold  and  silver  temple- 


Of  the  Capture  of  Belur      263 

vessels,  and  the  treasure  of  Belli,  King  of 
Kadesh. 

As  to  Belli  himself,  his  obese  form  was  igno- 
miniously  pierced  by  an  arrow,  as  he  dangled  at 
the  end  of  a  rope  half-way  up  the  city  walls. 

Once  the  Ethiopian  division  had  burst  in  the 
city  gate,  those  who  had  attempted  to  save  their 
King,  and  others  who  had  been  driven  to  the 
battlements  surrounding  the  palace,  were 
hurled  over  its  parapet  and  met  their  death 
either  upon  the  flagging  of  the  court  or  in  the 
waters  of  the  moat  which  surround  it. 

Bimur,  King  of  Charchemish,  fled  night  and 
day  by  means  of  relays.  Not  a  night  did  he  rest 
until  he  found  himself  once  again  behind  the 
giant  walls  of  his  capital. 

Belur,  his  brother,  badly  wounded  on  the 
field,  was  brought,  a  pale  and  sullen  captive,  to 
the  chariot  of  the  victorious  Ramses.  At  the 
present  plight  of  the  once  haughty  ambassador 
to  Egypt  Ramses  allowed  the  faintest  indica 
tion  of  a  sneer  to  break  the  stony  indifference 
of  his  glance. 


264       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

Following  his  commands  the  Prince  of  Kheta 
was  led  away  that  his  wounds  might  be  at 
tended  to.  Belur  was  reserved  for  a  fate  far 
worse  than  death.  Indeed,  death  would  come  as 
a  welcome  relief  to  the  indignities  and  tortures 
that  would  presently  be  meted  out  to  him.  He 
was  destined  to  swing  from  the  prow  of 
Ramses'  galley  head  down,  where  he  would  be 
lightly  fed,  yet,  were  it  possible,  not  allowed  to 
die,  until  Pharaoh  himself  should  despatch  him. 

According  to  custom,  a  captive  chief  must 
be  presented  to  the  great  god  Amen  of  Thebes. 
Established  precedent  required  that  he  be  killed 
before  the  temple  portals  of  the  god  himself. 
Whether  Aton  would  scorn  such  a  blood-thirsty 
offering,  Ramses  did  not  pause  to  think. 

The  irruption  of  the  victorious  Egyptian 
army  into  Kadesh  was  followed  by  wholesale 
loot,  division  of  the  women  among  the  soldiery, 
riotous  drunkenness,  child-murder  and  the  ap 
portioning  of  the  manhood  of  the  vanquished 
among  the  temples  of  Egypt.  There  followed 
the  utter  obliteration  of  the  conquered  city  in  a 
holocaust  of  fire. 


r 

Of  the  Capture  of  Belur      265 

Within  twenty  days  from  the  time  Pahura 
had  commenced  to  list  the  first  golden  ewer,  the 
once  famous  city  of  Kadesh  with  its  gilded 
towers  and  blue-glazed  walls,  its  palace  ablaze 
with  lazuli,  silver  and  ivory,  and  the  great  tem 
ple  to  the  Sun-god,  a  veritable  treasure-house 
of  richly  colored  tiles  and  bricks,  gold,  tur 
quoise,  silver,  ebony,  Lebanus  cedar  and  sweet- 
smelling  woods  from  the  Incense  Country,  lay  a 
mass  of  smouldering  ruins,  encircled  during  the 
day  by  a  veritable  ring  of  vultures,  throughout 
the  night  by  droves  of  snarling  and  quarreling 
hyenas. 

But,  by  this  time,  the  victorious  host  of  Egypt 
was  well  on  its  way  up  the  straight  highroad 
to  the  frontier,  where  it  was  hailed  by  the  ac 
claiming  vanguard  of  the  overjoyed  Egyptian 
populace. 

At  the  first  Egyptian  city,  Suan-of-the-North, 
it  was  rumored  that  the  aged  Magician  Enana, 
Ramses'  grandsire,  together  with  two  unknown 
and  mysterious  personages,  had  been  seen  to 
enter  Ramses'  tent.  Thereafter  they  accom 
panied  him. 


CHAPTER  XXII 

THE  " DOUBLE"  OF  HANIT 

A  FEELING,  closely  akin  to  panic,  had  set 
tled  upon  the  Egyptian  Court.    Its  mem 
bers,  of  whom  by  far  the  greater  number 
were,   outwardly  at  least,  firm   adherents   of 
Aton,  had  now  received  a  second  violent  shock 
to  their  already  perplexed  minds. 

Following  her  safe  return  from  one  of  her 
periodic  visits  to  Pharaoh's  new  capital  to  the 
north,  Thi  the  Queen-Mother,  had  suddenly  and 
most  mysteriously  vanished. 

The  Women's  Quarter  of  the  palace  was  in 
an  uproar.    Consternation  and,  withal  a  name 
less  dread,  was   stamped  upon  the  faces   of 
courtier  and  servant  alike.    The  remembrance 
of  Henna's  unaccountable,  and  still  unsolved 
disappearance,  was  still  fresh  in  their  minds. 
Upon  the  evening  in  which  the  Queen-Mother 
266 


The  "Double"  of  Hanit       267 

had  so  suddenly  vanished,  the  Princess  Beki- 
taton  had  left  her  side  for  a  few  moments  in 
order  to  warm,  with  her  own  hands,  a  cup  of  old 
Thinite  wine.  When  the  little  Princess  returned 
it  was  to  find  the  Queen-Mother  gone. 

She  chanced  to  look  out  of  the  window  and 
was  astonished  to  see  Queen  Thi,  in  com 
pany  with  another  lady  of  the  court,  the  Lady 
Kenenet  she  thought,  about  to  round  the  bend 
of  the  road  which  led  to  the  Temple  of  Sekh- 
met.  It  was  the  first  time  in  her  experience 
that  the  Queen-Mother  had  gone  out  so  little 
attended. 

Bekitaton  returned  to  the  harem.  She  did 
not  suspect  that  anything  was  amiss  until  dark 
ness  descended  upon  the  palace.  Then  and  not 
until  then,  according  to  the  rigid  court  eti 
quette,  she  again  entered  the  Queen-Mother's 
room — upon  this  occasion  accompanied  by  the 
other  ladies-in-waiting — in  order  to  assist  the 
Queen-Mother  to  the  Banquet  Hall.  Among 
the  ladies  she  was  surprised  to  see  the  Lady 
Benenet.  Upon  inquiry  she  found  that  Eenenet 


268        Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

had  not  left  the  Women's  Quarters  that  day. 
And  it  was  the  same  with  respect  to  the  other 
ladies.  Not  one  had  left  the  Palace  walls  dur 
ing  the  entire  day. 

Yet,  one  lady  asserted  that  she  had  seen 
Queen  Thi  enter  the  palace  within  the  hour. 
Somewhat  relieved  by  this,  the  Princess  Beki- 
taton  sought  the  Queen-Mother  in  each  and 
every  room  of  the  Women's  Quarter.  Yet  this 
search,  similarly,  proved  unsuccessful. 

Once  again  she  entered  the  Queen's  robing- 
room.  She  found  no  sign  of  disorder.  Queen 
Thi  had  apparently  left  of  her  own  free  will. 
The  mystified  little  Princess  called  to  her  assist 
ance  Queen  Noferit  and  other  ladies  of  the 
harem. 

Again  the  rooms  were  searched.  Led  by  the 
Princess  the  searchers  descended  into  the  gar 
dens.  They  entered  the  quarters  of  the  cooks 
and  butlers.  They  explored  the  dark  shadows 
of  the  various  columned  courts  and  the  murk 
ier  gloom  of  the  side  aisles,  together  with  their 
innumerable  storerooms. 


The  "Double"  of  Hanit       269 

Finally,  when  panic  seized  upon  them,  they 
called  to  their  assistance  the  Steward  of  the 
Palace.  At  the  news  Soken's  changed  expres 
sion  did  little  to  allay  their  fears.  With  a  ges 
ture  he  swept  them  all  back  in  the  direction  of 

• 

the  harem. 

In  turn  the  Palace  Steward  and  the  other 
eunuchs  once  again  carefully  searched  palace, 
court,  garden  and  lakeside.  Darkness  descended 
upon  a  house  filled  with  grief  and  consternation 
on  the  part  of  the  women,  and  deadly  fear  on 
the  part  of  Soken  and  the  other  eunuchs  of  the 
palace. 

The  fate  of  Prince  Menna,  Pharaoh's  Over 
seer,  was  still  upon  the  lips  of  palace-servant, 
priest  and  peasant  alike.  Henna's  enemies 
were  many.  It  might  well  be  that  someone 
whom  Menna  had  misused  or  wronged  had  at 
last  struck  back  and  that  successfully. 

But  the  sudden  disappearance  of  the  Queen- 
Mother  from  the  midst  of  her  ladies,  from  a 
mighty  building  guarded  within  and  without, 
caused  a  thrill  of  horror  and  a  nameless  fear  to 


2jo       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

run  through  palace  and  countryside  alike.  It 
was  inexplicable. 

The  Temple  of  Sekhmet,  the  lake,  the  palace 
and  the  palace-gardens,  were  searched  and  re 
searched  again  and  again.  Not  a  spot  was 
overlooked.  When  at  last  it  became  necessary 
to  send  the  evil  tidings  to  the  new  capital,  the 
City  of  the  Sun,  Pharaoh  himself  came  hur 
riedly  back  to  Thebes. 

As,  day  after  day,  the  searching  parties  re 
turned  empty-handed,  Pharaoh  lost  patience. 
Hundreds  were  slain.  Soken  and  many  of  the 
palace  eunuchs  met  their  death  at  the 
strangler's  hands.  Men  soon  went  to  the  task 
of  searching  for  the  lost  Queen  as  criminals 
already  condemned  to  death. 

For  a  full  week  the  search  was  renewed. 
Fresh  men  were  called  up  for  the  task.  Finally, 
the  soldiers  of  the  Divisions  of  Khonsu,  Ptah 
and  Sutekh  were  pressed  into  service.  All  in 
vain. 

One  remarkable  circumstance  was  discov 
ered,  following  the  disappearance  of  the  Queen- 


The  "Double"  of  Hanit       271 

Mother,  and  that  by  the  Princess  Bekitaton. 
The  portrait  of  the  Ex-Queen  Hanit,  which  had 
been  painted  on  a  column  in  the  Audience  Hall 
of  the  late  Pharaoh,  had  been  carefully  and 
completely  obliterated.  This  had  been  done 
just  prior  to  or  immediately  following  the 
Queen-Mother's  disappearance.  Nothing  re 
mained,  where  once  the  portrait  stood,  but  six 
words  written  in  red  in  roughly  drawn  hieratic : 
"By  the  Power  of  the  Book  of  Thoth." 

No  one  could  explain  this  desecration  of  the 
former  Queen's  portrait.  Mention  of  the  magic 
Book  of  Thoth  struck  terror  into  every  heart, 
not  excepting  that  of  Pharaoh  himself. 

Thenceforth  Pharaoh's  fanatical  zeal  in  the 
interest  of  Aton,  his  Syrian  sun-cult,  slowly 
waned  and  finally  ceased.  The  innumerable 
gifts  to  the  many  new  Aton  shrines  throughout 
Egypt — one  had  been  set  up  against  the  very 
walls  of  the  Temple  of  Amen  in  the  Apt — the 
gorgeous  religious  processions,  the  ceaseless 
theological  studies  and  debates,  all  were  sud 
denly  abandoned. 


272        Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

With  the  change  Pharaoh  himself  seemed  to 
fade.  Little  nourishment  passed  his  lips. 
"Within  the  dim  shadows  of  his  private  chapel, 
hour  after  hour  the  hollow-eyed  monarch  stood 
in  prayer  before  the  gold  and  gem-encrusted 
statue  of  Aton,  the  sun-god.  At  times  the 
statue  appeared  to  his  distracted  mind  to  mock 
him  with  a  smile  half-pitying,  half-contemp 
tuous  ! 

Verily,  the  curse  of  Huy,  High  Priest  of 
Amen  was  upon  him!  Noferith,  his  wife,  had 
borne  him  no  heir,  no  son  to  follow  him  upon 
the  gold  Horus  Throne  of  Egypt !  The  scepter 
must  go  to  others,  to  that  hollow  cousin  of  his, 
whom  Thi  had  been  wont  to  call  the  mirage. 

As  for  old  Ay,  another  distant  relative  and 
possible  claimant  to  the  Throne,  PHaraoh  sus 
pected  that  Ay  was  even  now  in  secret  corre 
spondence  with  the  exiled  priests  of  Amen, 
whose  influence  was  again  making  itself  felt, 
not  alone  in  Thebes,  but  as  far  north  as  the  new 
capital,  the  City  of  the  Sun  itself. 

To  whom  then  could  he  turn?  Among  the 
courtiers  about  him  there  was  not  one  in  whom 


The  "Double"  of  Hanit       273 

he  could  trust.  Not  one  could  help  him.  Alas, 
too  late,  he  bethought  him  of  the  exiled  Ramses ! 

In  the  midst  of  a  rising  on  the  part  of  his 
famine-stricken  people  in  the  south,  an  insur 
rection  started  by  the  exiled  priests  of  Amen, 
Pharaoh  took  to  his  ivory  couch. 

Thereafter  few  saw  him.  He  held  no  more 
audiences.  Dedu,  Keeper  of  the  Robes,  alone 
attended  him.  Even  Pentu,  his  physician,  was 
dismissed  and  shortly  after  strangled,  together 
with  Mei,  Chief  of  the  Military  Forces  in  the 
new  capital.  Mei  and  Pentu  had  both  been 
found  in  secret  correspondence  with  the  priests 
of  Amen  in  distant  Nubia. 

Dedu,  Keeper  of  the  Robes,  entered  his  royal 
master's  apartment  late  one  morning  to  find 
him  sitting  bolt  upright,  his  prominent  eyes 
fixed  in  a  horrified  stare  upon  the  curtain  which 
screened  the  door.  A  single  word  fell  from 
Pharaoh's  trembling  lips  as  he  sank  back  faint 
ing  in  Dedu's  outstretched  arms.  That  single 
word  the  wondering  Dedu  swore  was  .  .  . 
Hanit  I 

Thereafter,    Pharaoh    in    terror    bade    his 


274       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

guards  drive  all  visitors,  petitioners  and  beg 
gars  from  the  palace  gates.  Pharaoh  shut  him 
self  up  within  its  brightly  painted  courts  and 
allowed  things  without  to  take  their  course. 

The  silver-embossed  doors  remained  fast 
closed.  No  watchman  paced  the  battlemented 
walls  and  pylons.  No  plumed  Syrian  horses 
pawed  the  flagging  before  the  outer  gates.  The 
gay  bannerettes  no  longer  rose  upon  the  gold- 
tipped  poles  fronting  the  main  entrance  to  the 
palace  forecourt.  Hushed  were  the  voices  of 
the  guards  and  other  palace  servants.  Even 
the  birds  which  flitted  back  and  forth  among  the 
trees  seemed  to  have  forgotten  their  cheerful 
songs. 

Finally,  one  memorable  evening,  when  the 
dying  Pharaoh  lay  propped  up  high  upon  his 
couch,  he  beckoned  to  Prince  Antef,  Lord  of 
Thebes,  who  stood  in  the  center  of  the  awe 
struck  group  before  him. 

Dropping  the  hairless  lids  of  a  pair  of 
vulture-like  eyes,  eyes  filled  at  the  moment  with 
a  joy  which  the  Prince  tried  in  vain  to  conceal, 


The  "Double"  of  Hanit       275 

Antef  fell  upon  his  knees  beside  the  dying 
Pharaoh's  couch.  He  already  felt  the  gold 
diadem  of  kings  about  his  wig,  the  royal  asps 
about  his  forehead. 

Silence  descended  upon  the  little  room. 
Silence  seemed  to  fall  upon  the  entire  building, 
both  within  and  without.  The  wails  of  the 
women  ceased,  the  chanting  of  the  priests  and 
the  sobs  and  cries  of  the  palace  servants,  all 
abruptly  stopped. 

So  long  continued  was  the  sudden  hush  that 
the  expectant  Antef  slowly  raised  his  head. 

As  his  questioning  eyes  met  those  of  his 
royal  master,  Antef  there  beheld  such  a  look  of 
terror,  a  look  reflected  he  saw  upon  the  faces 
of  the  nobles  behind  the  dying  monarch,  that 
the  astounded  Theban  himself  felt  somewhat  of 
the  chill  that  seemed  to  have  changed  his 
master  and  his  friends  to  stone. 

He  caught  the  whispered  sound  of  a  once 
familiar  name.  It  seemed  to  be  on  everyone's 
lips:  Hanit!  Hanit!  Hanit! 

Antef  turned  himself  about.    At  once  that 


276       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

same  nameless  terror  held  him  also  in  its  grip. 

In  the  doorway  stood  Queen  Hanit,  Hanit 
upon  whose  mummified  form  he  himself  had 
placed  a  wreath  of  flowers !  Antef  stumbled  to 
his  feet  and  there  remained,  his  eyes  fixed  upon 
this  apparition  of  the  Ex- Queen,  as  if  he  like 
wise  had  been  turned  to  stone. 

A  richly  plaited  robe  covered  Queen  Hanit 's 
form.  About  her  head  was  set  the  vulture  dia 
dem,  that  circlet  of  gold  which  queens  of  the 
royal  blood  alone  may  wear.  Her  throat  was 
hidden  by  a  necklace  of  bright  blue  beads. 
Upon  one  finger  she  wore  a  blue  glazed  ring,  a 
ring  such  as  is  worn  by  the  dead  alone?  Be 
fore  her  she  held  a  Book  which  seemed  to  glow, 
as  if  by  some  preternatural  light. 

By  now  Antef  and  the  horrified  nobles  had 
backed  to  the  furthest  corner  of  the  room, 
whence  they  continued  to  gaze  at  this  ap 
parition  of  the  former  Queen,  believing  it  to  be 
in  very  fact  the  visible  " double"  of  Thi's  mur 
dered  rival. 

Hanit 's  black  eyes  glittered  like  those  of 


The  "Double"  of  Hanit       277 

some  poisonous  snake.  She  fixed  them  threat 
eningly  upon  the  shrunken  features  of  the  terri 
fied  monarch: 

"Dost  know  me,  son  of  Thi!" 

The  trembling  monarch  tried  in  vain  to 
speak. 

"Dost  know  me,  Syrian?" 

Again  Pharaoh  essayed  to  find  his  nerveless 
tongue.  At  last,  in  a  hoarse  and  breathless 
whisper,  he  managed  to  articulate  the  one  word 
.  .  .  Hanit! 

Again  the  soft  and  unearthly  voice  of  Hanit 
thrilled  their  ears : 

"Son  of  Thi,  thou  that  art  about  to  wander 
forth  upon  the  steep  and  stony  hills  of  Duat, 
hearken  unto  the  utterance  of  Amen,  king  of 
gods!  By  the  power  of  this  Magic  Book,  thy 
Hidden  Names  are  revealed  to  me!  Known  to 
me  are  the  Mystic  Names  of  the  Genii  that  pro 
tect  thee!  By  the  Power  of  the  Book,  thy  ka 
hath  been  destroyed !  Thy  soul  is  destroyed ! 

"Awake,  awake !  Pass  not  forth  until  I  have 
shown  thee  a  marvel,  saith  Amen,  king  of  gods ! 


278        Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

Stand  forth,  Son  of  Amen!  Eeceive  the 
Scepter  of  Amen  which  is  thine ! ' ' 

With  this  the  apparition  slowly  moved  back, 
and  there  before  them,  arrayed  in  the  full  re 
galia  of  kings,  the  curved  sword  of  Amen 
clasped  in  his  hand,  stood  Ramses,  the  con 
queror  of  Eimur  and  the  Hittites. 

The  seeming  "double"  of  the  dead  Queen 
raised  the  Luminous  Book  high  above  her  head : 

* '  Hearken,  Egyptians !  Hearken  to  the  words 
of  Amen,  king  of  gods!  With  this  sword 
divine  hath  Eamses,  my  son,  hurled  back  the 
Hittites  from  your  borders!  With  this  sword 
divine  hath  he  won  a  glorious  victory !  Eimur 
grovels  in  the  dust  before  him;  Belur  awaits 
his  bitter  doom !  Of  a  truth  is  this  my  son,  born 
of  my  will,  essence  of  my  essence,  saith  Amen, 
king  of  gods!  Salute  your  king!  Salute  him, 
Electrum  of  Kings,  Essence  of  a  God!" 

She  ceased,  and  vanished  as  abruptly  as  she 
had  appeared.  In  her  place  stood  a  figure 
arrayed  in  the  regalia  of  the  great  god  Amen. 
In  his  hand  he  held  the  Double  Crown  of  Egypt. 


The  "Double"  of  Hanit       279 

As  if  overcome  at  this  manifestation  of  the 
power  of  the  great  God  Amen,  Mei-amen,  new 
leader  of  the  Prophets  of  Amen,  slowly  and 
reverently  advanced  and,  falling  at  Ramses' 
knees,  kissed  the  hem  of  his  garment.  As  he 
rose,  few  noted  the  look  that  passed  between 
them. 

Thereafter,  the  dead  Pharaoh  was  forgotten. 
Indeed,  as  the  cries  of  the  palace-women  broke 
out  once  more,  the  assembled  nobles  burst  into 
a  shout,  new  to  those  resplendent  walls,  a  shout 
which  brought  the  terrified  servants  to  the 
door: 

"Hail  to  thee,  Ramses,  chosen  of  Amen! 
Life,  Satisfaction  and  Health  to  Pharaoh,  our 

lord,  forever  and  ever!" 

***** 

"Let  me  see,  how  do  the  Egyptians  express 
it?  0,1  remember!  Now  of  the  coming  to  the 
throne  of  Ramses,  of  his  marriage  to  the  Prin 
cess  Sesen,  of  the  cutting  out  of  the  hated  name 
of  Aton  from  temple,  tomb  and  dwelling,  is  it 
not  written  in  letters  of  red  and  black  upon  a 


280       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

leather  scroll  and  stored  within  the  Temple  of 
Amen  in  the  Apt  unto  this  day? 

"You  know  this  to  be  true,  Clem!  But  do 
you  know  that  Seneb,  the  mason,  was  sent  to  cut 
out  all  mention  of  Menna  upon  the  walls  of  his 
tomb?  Menna,  son  of  Menna,  never  reached  the 
Blessed  Fields  of  Aaru,  of  that  you  may  be 
sure. 

"Yes,  I  know  what  your  next  question  will 
be!  The  Luminous  Book? 

"Listen!  What  I  am  going  to  tell  you  is  in 
teresting  and  true.  I  can  vouch  for  the  story, 
as  I  had  it  from  the  lips  of  Enana  himself. 

"Enana  placed  the  Magic  Book  in  a  cauldron 
of  boiling  water  drawn  from  the  Sacred  Lake 
by  a  virgin  of  the  Temple  of  the  Mother-god 
dess.  Thus  the  mystic  powers  with  which  the 
Book  had  been  imbued  became  incorporated  in 
the  holy  water. 

"A  draught  of  this  enchanted  water  Queen 
Hanit  drank  and,  drinking,  died.  The  remain 
der,  according  to  her  wish,  was  sprinkled  over 
her  body,  immediately  following  the  placing  of 
her  mummy  in  the  tomb. 


The  "Double"  of  Hanit       281 

' '  Thereafter  Enana  '  said  that  which  he  said, ' 
Enana  '  intoned  that  which  he  intoned, '  and  the 
immutable  curse  of  the  Conjurers  of  Amen  was 
repeated  before  the  door  of  her  tomb : 

"' Behold!  As  Ra,  the  Sun-god,  liveth! 
Whosoever  seeketh  to  desecrate  this  tomb 
dieth!  Whosoever  toucheth  this  body  to  re 
move  it  dieth!  On  earth  death  is  his  portion! 
In  the  underworld  annihilation  is  his  destiny! 
In  the  Hidden  Name  of  Amen,  king  of  gods, 
this  curse  remaineth,  yea,  so  long  as  Ra,  the 
Sun-god,  endureth!' 

' l  You  see,  Clem !  It  is  not  to  be  wondered  at 
that  those  men  died  so  suddenly,  or  that  the 
curator,  who  likewise  handled  mummy  No.  49, 
himself  succumbed.  It  proves,  without  the 
shadow  of  a  doubt,  that  the  curse  of  the  Con 
jurers  of  Amen  did  endure.  Sesen  can  tell 
you.  .  .  ." 

"Steven,  please  lie  down  and  stop  talking. 
Don't  worry  about  things.  Try  to  compose 
yourself." 

As  I  sank  dutifully 'back  upon  the  pillows,  I 
was  aware  of  a  soft  and  deliriously  cool  hand 


282       Hanit:  the  Enchantress 

which  gently  pressed  my  throbbing  head.  A 
smiling  face  bent  over  me. 

My  bewildered  eyes  wandered  from  a  trim 
little  white  cap  to  a  spotless  white  dress  and 
shoes,  white  canvas  shoes! 

''Where  are  her  pretty  gilded  sandals," 
thought  I. 

I  tried  to  speak  to  her.   I  even  made  an  effort 
to  catch  the  soothing  hand  at  my  forehead. 

At  this  the  white  figure  vanished,  and  in  its 
place,  stood  Braintree,  the  Seaforth's  doctor. 

I 1  Great  Scott,  I  have  it.    I  am  in  the  hospital ! 
That  was  Susan.  ..." 

"That's  just  where  you  are,  Steven.  And 
I  must  ask  you  not  to  excite  yourself  about  it. 
Here  you  are  and  here  you  have  been  for  some 
time.  Tribe,  Dunn  and  I  have  slaved  over  you 
and  won  out,  at  last. 

"But  who,  may  I  ask,  is  Menna?  No  friend 
of  yours,  I'd  swear!  Susan  is  equally  inter 
ested  in  some  lady  friend  of  your  acquaintance, 
Sesen  I  think  her  name  was !  Well,  never  mind 
that  now.  Turn  over  and  rest." 


The  "Double"  of  Hank       283 

Then  it  was  a  dream ;  the  vision  of  a  fevered 
brain!  Enana,  Hanit,  Sesen,  Menna,  and 
Eenny — could  I  have  been  Kenny — all  were 
dreams!  Hanit!  Why  such  a  person  never 
existed.  And  Bamses !  As  yet  he  wasn't  born ! 

I  tried  to  smile  at  the  busy  little  figure  in 
white.  I  recognized  her  now.  It  was  Susan 
Braintree,  my  Susan ! 

I  caught  myself  repeatedly  murmuring: 
''Susan  the  Lily,  Sesen  the  Lotus,  one  and  the 
same  name,  one  and  the  same  person  perhaps. 
Ah,  my  Beautiful  Princess!  I  can  smell  the 
sweet  unguents  which  Bhanar  has  sprinkled 
upon  your  dainty  wig,  the  myrrh  upon  your 
supple  hands  ...  !" 

Susan  presses  a  little  phial  to  my  nostrils.  A 
few  short  breaths  and — I  sleep. 

THE   END 


UU  bUU  1  MtMN  KtUIUNAL  LlbHAHY  hAU 

1,1  1:,,;1!!,!1!!1'!'!1! 

AA      000291  257    4 

RSITY  LIBRARY 
fornia,  San  Diego 

DUE 

CENTRAL  UNIVE 
University  of  Call 

DATE 

nro  1  fl  1Q7Q 

Utb  -L  v  w 
DFP  1  9  1Q7fl 

orn  ifi^lfilftR 

otr  U  tf  Wpo 

. 

-RIIBRARY  LOA' 

1 

SEP  1  4  1988 

C139 

UCSD  Libr.         I 

